Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, writer and playwright known for his wit, intelligence and flamboyance. During the 1890s in London he had great success with his plays, many of which are still performed to this day (An Ideal Husband, The Importance of Being Earnest). In 1895, after his trial for gross indecency, the jury were unable to reach a verdict but following a retrial he was found guilty and sent to prison where he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously). On his release from prison, he wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol – a long poem exploring themes of justice, punishment and retribution.