Picture Of Dorian Gray (Lippincott)

Picture of Dorian Gray (Lippincott)

by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel written by Oscar Wilde, and first came out as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on June 20, 1890. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters; the amended version was published by Ward, Lock, and Company in April 1891. The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is greatly impressed by Dorian's physical beauty and becomes strongly infatuated with him, believing that his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art. Talking in Basil's garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil's, and becomes enthralled by Lord Henry's world view. Espousing a new kind of hedonism, Lord Henry suggests that the only thing worth pursuing in life is beauty, and the fulfilment of the senses. Realising that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, wishing that the portrait Basil has painted of him would age rather than himself. Dorian's wish is fulfilled, subsequently plunging him into a series of debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin being displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging. The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered one of the last works of classic gothic horror fiction with a strong Faustian theme. It deals with the artistic movement of the decadents, and homosexuality, both of which caused some controversy when the book was first published. However, in modern times, the book has been referred to as "one of the modern classics of Western literature." (Summary by Wikipedia)

Authors

Oscar Wilde image

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, the early 1890s saw him become...

Books by Oscar Wilde

Listen/Download Audiobook

Unfortunately, no Audiobooks/Narrations exist for this book, yet...

Related books

Miranda Cover image

Miranda by Grace Livingston Hill

Miranda Griscom is a spirited young woman with a secret. She has rejected the advances of a wealthy suitor, puzzling her small town community. Miranda...

Seitsemän veljestä Cover image

Seitsemän veljestä by Aleksis Kivi

Seitsemän veljestä on tarina seitsemän nuoren suomalaisen miehen elämästä, unelmista, juopottelusta, tappeluista, ankarasta työnteosta, katumuksesta j...

Revolutions of Civilization Cover image

Revolutions of Civilization by William Matthew Flinders Petrie

William Matthew Flinders Petrie, a renowned archaeologist and Egyptologist, delves into the intricate tapestry of civilization across diverse cultures...

White Feather Cover image

White Feather by P. G. Wodehouse

White Feather tells the story of Sheen, a student at Wrykyn School, who is ostracized for seemingly fleeing a fight with town boys. He is labeled a c...

A Sicilian Romance  Cover image

A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

The Marquis Mazzini's daughters, Emilia and Julia, are beautiful and accomplished young ladies. Julia quickly falls in love with the young and handsom...

Jewel of Seven Stars Cover image

Jewel of Seven Stars by Bram Stoker

The Jewel of Seven Stars is a gothic horror novel that tells the story of an archaeologist's attempt to revive an ancient Egyptian queen from her mumm...

Varney, the Vampyre Vol. 2 Cover image

Varney, the Vampyre Vol. 2 by Thomas Peckett Prest

An influential forerunner to vampire stories like Dracula, Varney the Vampire is a classic of Gothic horror. When Flora Bannersworth is attacked by a...

Riddle and Other Stories Cover image

Riddle and Other Stories by Walter de la Mare

Walter de la Mare's 'Riddle and Other Stories' is a collection of enchanting and unsettling tales that explore the complexities of childhood and the b...

Sandmann Cover image

Sandmann by E. T. A. Hoffmann

Der Sandmann ist ein düsterer und psychologisch komplexer Roman, der die Grenzen zwischen Realität und Fantasie verwischt. Nathanael, ein junger Stude...

Vampire; or, The Bride of the Isles Cover image

Vampire; or, The Bride of the Isles by James Planché

“Vampire; or, The Bride of the Isles” is a dramatic play written by James Planché that reimagines the vampire myth, drawing inspiration from Lord Byro...

Reviews for Picture of Dorian Gray (Lippincott)

No reviews posted or approved, yet...