THE+PICTURE+OF+DORIAN+GRAY

ln The Picture of Dorian Gray,we can see much of Wilde's ownpersonaliry. H. wrote in one of his letters that the three maincharacters in this story are three parts of himself' He said,'BasílHallward ís what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me:Dorian what I would like to be - in other ages, perhaps.'Oscar Wilde was one of the most important English-languagewriters of the nineteenth century. He was born in Dublin, Ireland,on 16 October 1854. His father was a doctor, a specialist in diseasesof the eye and ear, and his mother a writer and translator. He wentto Dublin and Oxford universities, where he was an unusuallyclever student. At Oxford he won an important ptize but he waseven more famous for his unusual personal sfyle. His long hair,bright clothes, amusing conversation and ideas about art won himmany followers. His habit of making fun of people also madeenemies.In 1878 he moved to London. His first book of poems appearedin 1881 but it did not bring him much money. He went on a tourof the United States, where he gave talks on art and society.In 1884 Wilde married Constance Lloyd, who gave birth totheir r,wo sons, Cyril in 1885 andVyvyan in 1886. Constance wasan intelligent woman who read widely and could speak severallanguages. She had an independent mind and was not afraid to saywhat she thought.Wilde began to work seriously at his writing in 1887. Hewrote two books of children's stories. His first and only full-lengthadult story, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), first appeared in anAmerican ma,gazine. It came out in book form the next year andwas strongly criticized for the suggested sexual interest befweenr'wo men. He also wrote plays about fashionable sociery includingLady Windermere's FAn (1892), A Woman o/ No Impofiance (1893)and An Ideal Husband (1895).Most popular of all wx The Importance of Being Earnest (1895),