12. Which Irish author and poet, admired for his wit, was tried and imprisoned for homosexual acts and lived the last years of his life in exile before dying at the early age of 46?
From Quiz Gone Too Soon, Yet Not Forgotten
Answer:
Oscar Wilde
Born in Dublin and having studied at Oxford, Wilde was one of the leading figures of the literary scene. His one and only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Grey" was well received, as were his plays, famous among them being "The Importance of Being Earnest". Unfortunately, his private prosecution of the Marquess of Queensberry for libel backfired. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas and to avoid being convicted himself managed to gather evidence of Wilde's homosexual lifestyle which was treated as a crime in those days. Found guilty, Wilde was sentenced to two years' hard labour. Once free, he moved to France leading a largely penniless life. He died in 1900 from a severe ear infection, though for years it was believed that the cause of his death was syphilis.