This author's book Intentions includes a pair of essays styled as Platonic dialogues between Gilbert and Ernest, and Vivian and Cyril.
This author wrote an essay warning against seeking fulfillment in life, since "we purchase the meanest of its secrets at a cost that is monstrous and infinite." Another essay by this author proclaims the story of George Washington and the cherry tree to be the single most damaging moral tale in all of literature. An essay by this author discusses an article subtitled "A Protest," which argues that the true aim of art is the telling of "beautiful (*) untrue things." This author's book Intentions includes a pair of essays styled as Platonic dialogues between Gilbert and Ernest, and Vivian and Cyril. This author bolded the statement that "All art is quite useless" in the preface to a novel whose protagonist stabs an artwork that ages along with him. For 10 points, name this English author who promoted the doctrine of art for art's sake in his essays "The Critic as Artist" and "The Decay of Lying," and in his novel The Picture of Dorian Grey.
This author wrote an essay warning against seeking fulfillment in life, since "we purchase the meanest of its secrets at a cost that is monstrous and infinite."
Oscar Wilde [or Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde]