Oscar Wilde Collected editions

Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist whose wit, flamboyance, and keen social insight made him one of the most celebrated literary figures of the late Victorian era. A master of epigram and paradox, Wilde crafted works that sparkle with humor while probing the hypocrisies of society.

His plays — including The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, and Lady Windermere’s Fan — remain enduring comedies of manners, while his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, blends Gothic horror with a meditation on beauty, morality, and corruption.

Renowned for his brilliant conversation and distinctive style, Wilde was also a cultural provocateur who challenged the rigid norms of his time. His career was cut short by scandal and imprisonment, yet his words and persona have endured, making Oscar Wilde a lasting icon of artistic courage, individuality, and wit.