Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Death: 30th November 1900
Location: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Paris, France Plot: Division 89
Cause of Death: Meningitis
Photo taken by: Julia and Keld
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Anglo-Irish playwright and novelist who is today as much remembered for his conviction and imprisonment for homosexual acts as he is for his literary works. 

He was born in Dublin, his mother was a successful writer known as Speranza. Wilde studied classics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he excelled and was awarded a scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford. After graduating Wilde spend the next six years giving lectures in London, Paris and the USA.  In 1884 he married Constance Lloyd, even though for several years Wilde had been the lover of the artist Frank Miles. Wilde had two sons with Constance. 

Wilde published his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1891 and his popularity as a dramatist began in 1892 with Lady Windermere's Fan. His masterpiece is considered to be The Importance of Being Earnest which was first preformed in 1895. 

Wilde’s sexuality has been the subject of much discussion and as well as his famous relationship with Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas, he also had encounters with numerous working-class males. The Marquess of Queensberry, the father of Bosie, was furious at his son’s involvement with Wilde and this eventually lead to Wilde being arrested on April 6th 1895 at the Cadogan Hotel in London where he was charged with gross indecency.  He was convicted and sentenced to two years hard labour. Wilde never recovered from his imprisonment and spent the last three years in self-imposed exile. 
His tomb was sculpted by Sir Jacob Epstein and it is often has traces of lipstick on it left by Wilde’s admirers. The angel on his tomb was sculpted with male genitals, but these were removed as they were deemed obscene.  Several films have been made about Oscar Wilde,  including Wilde (1997) staring Stephen Fry.

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