The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

This and countless other wonderful one-liners were the work of one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era - Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on this day in 1854 in Dublin and educated at Trinity College Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. His writing made him a real celebrity - and his plays are still widely performed today, but it was the famous trial for 'Gross Indecency' and his subsequent imprisionment that was to be his downfall.

Although he was an incredibly versatile writer, Wilde wrote only one novel - The Picture of Dorian Gray - which was published in 1891. This is the intriguing story of the beautiful, vain, sinful and indulgent young Dorian Gray, the subject of a portrait painted by the artist Basil Hallward. The novel tells how Dorian sells his soul to ensure the portrait would age rather than himself. Then, with his wish fulfilled, it slowly and hideously decays while he, ever more indulgent and debauched, remains untouched by age… but at a terrifying price.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is read for Silksoundbooks as an unabridged audio book by Crispin Bonham-Carter in a stunning performance that really brings the story to life in all its gothic horror.

I'll leave the last words to Oscar - 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.' Happy Birthday !

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