The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

May 2014 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The Picture of Dorian Gray scandalized readers when it was first published in 1890. Written in Wilde’s signature style, the story has gone on to become an enduring tale of man’s hubris and narcissism.

The well-known artist Basil Hallward meets the young Dorian Gray in the stately London home of his aunt, Lady Brandon. Basil becomes immediately infatuated with Dorian, who is cultured, wealthy, and remarkably beautiful. Such beauty, Basil believes, is responsible for a new mode of art, and he decides to paint a portrait of the young man. While finishing the painting, Basil reluctantly introduces Dorian to his friend Lord Henry Wotton, a man known for scandal and exuberance. Wotton inspires Dorian to live life through the senses, to feel beauty in everyday experience. Dorian becomes enthralled by Wotton’s ideas, and more so becomes obsessed with remaining young and beautiful. He expresses a desire to sell his soul and have the portrait of him age, while he, the man, stays eternally young. A tragic story of hedonism and desire, The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s only published novel.

Ratings and reviews

Amazing.. Just. Oscar Wilde is my favorite writer. The story is dark and hopeless, and yet his voice guides you through it so perfectly, not only do you feel every pang and flight of the main character's feelings, you finding yourself alternately supporting and hating him. Wilde rips open the emotions of words to make every sentence rich with indulgent detail.

I read it once a year and I quote it daily. I am in love with the way that the soul is portayed thru dorian gray how we all struggle with goodness and darkness. How we question and how we yield. This is to me personified the internal struggles we face not just by the influence of others on ourselves but the influence we have on others. Wisdom and realism from the first page beautifully painted with his imagery and his colourful darkness.

It was boring, and weird. I am not into philosophy, nor am I gay. listening to a guy character(Dorian gray) being described in such a way really turned me off from the beginning. my female coworker loved it though. If you love romance, philosophy, and dark plots, you need this book. If you love well written fun characters, and action/ adventure based plots, I suggest looking elsewhere.

About the author

Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854, to the Irish nationalist and writer “Speranza” Wilde and the doctor William Wilde. After graduating from Oxford in 1878, Wilde moved to London, where he became notorious for his sharp wit and flamboyant style of dress.

Though he was publishing plays and poems throughout the 1880s, it wasn’t until the late 1880s and early 1890s that his work started to be received positively. In 1895, Oscar Wilde was tried for homosexuality and was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison. Tragically, this downfall came at the height of his career, as his plays, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest, were playing to full houses in London. He was greatly weakened by the privations of prison life, and moved to Paris after his sentence. Wilde died in a hotel room, either of syphilis or complications from ear surgery, in Paris, on November 30, 1900.