Oscar Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was a renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, widely recognized as a leading figure in the late 19th-century Aesthetic movement. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant style, and social critiques, he was one of London's most successful dramatists in the early 1890s before his dramatic downfall, conviction for homosexuality, and subsequent death in exile.