Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.

As a result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years of hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison, he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain and died in poverty.

Wilde was born to Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. He was an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College, Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism. Wilde became known for his flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, becoming one of the best-known personalities of his day.

At the height of his fame and success, Wilde's life took a turn when he issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry, for criminal libel. The case led to Wilde's arrest and prosecution for "gross indecency" with other males, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. During his incarceration, he wrote De Profundis, a long letter discussing his spiritual journey through his trials. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a long poem commemorating the harsh realities of prison life.