Quick Facts
I have nothing to declare except my genius. Wit, scandal, prison, and eternal quotability.
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Life Journey
Oscar Wilde was born to Sir William Wilde and Jane Francesca Elgee in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a renowned eye and ear surgeon, and his mother was a poet and writer.
Wilde begins his education at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, where he excels academically and shows a keen interest in literature and languages.
Wilde enrolls at Trinity College, Dublin, where he studies classics and begins to develop his aesthetic philosophy. He wins the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek during his time there.
Wilde secures a demyship scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he continues his studies in classics and further refines his aesthetic and intellectual pursuits.
Wilde graduates from Magdalen College, Oxford, with a double first in his final examinations, solidifying his reputation as a brilliant and charismatic figure in academic circles.
Wilde publishes his first collection of poetry, 'Poems,' which garners critical acclaim and helps establish him as a literary figure in London society.
Wilde embarks on a lecture tour across the United States, promoting the principles of aestheticism and gaining widespread attention for his wit and eloquence.
Wilde marries Constance Lloyd, a wealthy and well-educated woman, in London. The couple goes on to have two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan.
Wilde is convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years of hard labor in Reading Gaol, a devastating blow to his personal and professional life.
After his release from prison, Wilde publishes 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol,' a powerful poem that reflects on his experiences and the harsh realities of prison life.
Oscar Wilde dies in poverty and obscurity at the Hôtel d'Alsace in Paris, France, after a prolonged illness. He is buried in the city's Père Lachaise Cemetery.