Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a brilliant author, playwright, and wit. He was born in the middle of the Victorian age—the period of English history during which Queen Victoria reigned, from 1837-1901. After graduating from Oxford University, he lectured as a poet, art critic and a leading proponent of the principles of aestheticism. 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. Throughout the course of his literary career, Wilde excelled in a variety of literary genres, his work often reflecting a close connection between his art and his own life. Early in his career he wrote fairy tales in which, as in all good fairy tales, the good and pure always triumphed in the end. They differed, however, in one important aspect: rather than depicting evil as an external force, Wilde chose to reveal the evil within human beings. Wilde is most commonly known for his works titled The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Canterville Ghost and his plays.