Oscar Wilde and Alfred Douglas. Irish author and poet Oscar Wilde (left, 1854-1900) in 1893 with his lover the British author and poet Lord Alfred Douglas (right, 1870-1945). In 1895, Wilde had Douglas's father prosecuted for libel. The resulting investigations led to Wilde dropping the charges and being put on trial for his relationship with Douglas and others (homosexuality was then illegal). Wilde was convicted that same year and sentenced to two years in prison. Following his release he went to France, where he died destitute three years later in Paris. Photograph published in 1894 in Wilde's 'Salome: A tragedy in one act', translated by Douglas from the French.