Oscar Wilde(1854-1900) was born in Dublin and is remembered for a diverse literaryoutput that included his novel,The Picture of Dorian Gray; stories for children;poetry; plays, includingThe Importance of Being Earnest; and a wide-ranging selectionof essays and other prose works. Despite being highly celebrated in literary andsocial circles, he was tried for gross indecency and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.He died in penury in Paris.

Gyles Brandrethis a writer, broadcaster, actor, former MP, and Government Whip,best known as a reporter onThe One Showon BBC 1 and a regular on Radio 4'sJusta Minute. He recently played Lady Bracknell inThe Importance of Being Earnest. Hismany books include political diaries and a series of detective stories,The Oscar WildeMysteries, now published in twenty-two countries.