Even if Oscar Wilde hadn’t “taken a walk on the wild side” sexually, he’d still have been an outsider.

The Wildes were Protestants in late-1800’s Ireland – a country which was aggressively Catholic. They were also Protestant supporters of Irish nationalism.

This unique combination of beliefs made them outsiders by religion as well as outsiders within their own religious community.

Deeply influenced by this “outsiderness” during his formative years, Oscar developed a slicing wit.

But he wasn’t the first to confuse scalpel and pen. 
Let’s not forget Alexander Pope.

Nor was he the last to walk on the wild side.
Remember Lou Reed in 1972?
(Wow. Has it really been 38 years?)