Oscar Wilde was the flamboyant leader of the Aesthetic Movement, which promoted 'art for art's sake.' He is best remembered for his only novel, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray,' and his masterpiece play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest.' Wilde was famous for his epigrams—short, witty sayings that often flipped conventional wisdom on its head. During his 1882 lecture tour of America, he allegedly told customs officials in New York, 'I have nothing to declare except my genius.' His brilliance was eventually overshadowed by a tragic downfall; he was imprisoned for 'gross indecency' due to his homosexuality, which was illegal in Victorian England. While in prison, he wrote 'De Profundis,' a deeply moving letter that contrasts sharply with his earlier light-hearted wit. He died in exile in Paris in 1900, but his legacy as a master of language and social satire remains untouchable.