Three Short Stories [antikvár]

IntroductionOscar Wilde, the author of these stories, was born in Ireland in 1854. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and at Magdalen College, Oxford. He attracted attention at the university as a disciple of Walter Pater whose views on art and literature were the inspiration of the aesthetic movement of the eighteen eighties and nineties, known as Art for Art's Sake. Wilde soon became famous in London for his wit and the calculated extravagance of his views, behaviour and dress. His first work of importance ' The Picture of Dorian Gray', a novel, was published in 1891. This was followed in subsequent years by his plays, ' Lady Windermere's Fan ', 1892, ' A Woman of No Importance \ 1893 and 'The Importance of Being Earnest', 1895. This last play was an outstandingly brilliant example of the comedy of manners, comparable in wit and finish with Congreve's ' Way of the World ' or Sheridan's ' School for Scandal'. Wilde was invited to lecture in the United States, was the centre of attraction wherever he went in London and by 1895 was one of the outstanding literary personalities of the day. In that year, however, Wilde was foolish enough to sue the Marquis of Queens-bury for libel. This brought about counter charges that led ultimately to Wilde's prosecution and subsequent sentence of two years' imprisonment. Little of the old gaiety and sparkle remained after his experiences of prison life in Reading gaol. On his release Wilde went to France. He died in Paris in 1900. Enough of his old wit remained for him to remark not long before his death:' I am dying beyond my meansThe dandified artificial exterior of Oscar Wilde con-