Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (18541900) was an Irish poet and playwright who became one of the most popular in London during the 1880s and 1890s. Well-known for his sharp wit and extravagant attire, Wilde was a proponent of aestheticism and wrote in a variety of forms including poetry, fiction, and drama. He was famously imprisoned for homosexual acts from 1895 to 1897 and died at the age of 46, just three years after his release. Although best remembered for his plays, poetry and novels, Wilde also wrote a number of interesting essays and gave lectures on the subject of art, the best examples of which are contained within this fantastic collection. They include: The Rise of Historical Criticism, The English Renaissance of Art, House Decoration, Art and the Handicraftsman, Lecture to Art Students, London Models, and Poems in Prose. A great collection of thought-provoking essays and lectures not to be missed by those with an interest in the work and mind of this seminal literary figure. Read& Co. Great Essays is proudly republishing this classic collection of essay and lectures now in a new edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.