Scandalous Facts About Oscar Wilde
"The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself."—Oscar Wilde.
Witty, eccentric, pompous, and mad for attention, Oscar Wilde has been called one of the first modern celebrities. He built his public persona with great care, delivering quotes that became immortalized instantly.
Despite his social downfall, his imprisonment, and self-imposed exile, Wilde’s genius could not be suppressed. His work continues to inspire, and the way he lived his life is an incredible subject for analysis and study.
Here, for your benefit, are 43 facts about this legendary Irish writer.
Oscar Wilde Facts
43. Famous Father
Wilde’s father was Sir William Wilde. Sir William was descended from a Dutch colonel who had come to Ireland with King William III when he was invited to depose James II and begin the Glorious Revolution.
Sir William was one of Ireland’s most prominent surgeons in both ophthalmology and otology—that’s eyes and ears, for those of you looking confused.
Sir William was actually knighted for his accomplishments as a surgeon, leaving some big shoes to fill for his children.
42. Mutinous Mother
Wilde’s mother, Jane Wilde, was a well-known Irish poet and a fervent Irish nationalist. She wrote poems under the pseudonym "Speranza" in support of Ireland’s 1848 uprising. She also once contributed an editorial to TheNation, calling for the Irish to raise arms against British colonial rule. She was also a noted women’s suffragist and advocated for women’s education. Safe to say that she took no guff from anybody!
41. Legendary Alma Mater
From 1871 to 1874, Wilde studied at Trinity College, sharing a room with his older brother, Willie—yes, his name was Willie Wilde. (Named after his father, of course, but did he have to take on the nickname Willie?
) Oscar rubbed shoulders with several noted scholars during his time at Trinity, including Arthur Palmer and the Irish critic and poet Edward Dowden.
