The Picture of Dorian Gray / Oscar Wilde

Overview

First published in 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray stands as Oscar Wilde’s only novel and one of the most brilliant pieces of Gothic fiction ever written. The story follows a beautiful young aristocrat, Dorian Gray, who wishes that a painted portrait of himself would age and bear the burdens of his lifestyle while he remains eternally young.

As Dorian sinks into a life of unchecked narcissism, cruelty, and hedonism, his physical body remains flawless and unblemished. Meanwhile, hidden away in an attic, his portrait transforms into a grotesque, decaying monster, physically manifesting the rot of his soul with every sin he commits.