OSCAR WILDE (1854–1900)

The Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde wrote some of the finest comedies in the English language.

Lady Windermere's Fan was published in 1892, A Woman of No Importance' appeared in1893, An Ideal Husband' in1895, and the ever-popular The Importance of Being Earnest' was published in 1895.

He was a great conversationalist and a man of wide learning, but his life ended in disgrace and poverty.

Wilde was born on Oct. 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland. He was educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, Trinity College in Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford.

He then settled in London, where in 1884 he married Constance Lloyd. They had two sons.

He published his early poetry, wrote book reviews, and edited the journal Woman's World.

His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray' (1891), was severely criticized as immoral.

He had the ability to take conventional plots and turn them into brilliant comedies by his witty dialogue.

Nightingale and the Rose, Star- Child, Young King, Happy Prince, Fisherman and His Soul, Devoted Friend - are not fairy tales for children. These are sad fairy tales. These are fairy tales for adults.

In the classic The Importance of Being Earnest', the plot and the dialogue are equally fantastic.