The Picture of Dorian Gray

Overview

The price of indulgence is explored with vivid detail in Oscar Wilde’s memorable—and only—novel.

Dorian is a good-natured young man until he falls in with the cunning and quick-tongued Lord Henry, who unveils to Dorian the power of his own exceptional beauty. As he gradually sinks deeper into a glamorous and decadent world of selfish luxury, he seems to remain physically unchanged in spite of age and the stresses of his corrupt lifestyle. But in his attic, hidden behind a curtain, his portrait tells a different story.

Reviews

"In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde set the gold standard for chroniclers of decadence."  —Guardian

"A heady late-Victorian tale of double-living."  —Sarah Waters, author, Fingersmith

"This is a book about a bloke who realises that the night is young, but he is not."  —Kathy Lette

Author Biography

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an influential figure within the Aesthetic Movement. He is best known for his barbed wit and his highly successful plays, among them Lady Windemere’s Fan (1892) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).