Description

Dorian Gray is the most beautiful young man Lord Henry Wotton has ever seen. What is his secret? Introduced to him through a friend who has just painted Dorian's portrait, Lord Henry finds much to discuss with Dorian as he visits one day. When the conversation turns to the inevitable slipping-away of youth and beauty, Dorian fervently wishes that his portrait would age instead of him. Strangely, Dorian's wish is granted, and his newfound invincibility attracts him to dark deeds and decadence. But Dorian's new extreme lifestyle causes the portrait, hidden within his house, to betray the age and wear that Dorian is escaping. One of Oscar Wilde's most famous works, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic tale of outer splendor and inner ugliness—a dangerous combination that even Dorian may find impossible to sustain.

About the Author

Born into a well-to-do Irish family, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was smart and spirited from his earliest days. His mother a noted poet, Oscar grew up in a cultured world, full of fascinating personalities. In college, Wilde became the poster-boy for aestheticism, a glamorous, pleasure-seeking movement then at the height of fashion. Going on to enjoy a successful career as a poet, playwright, novelist, and lecturer, Wilde would be an icon for the rest of his life. However, his bold and unconventional choices would later bring him face to face with the strict moral code of Victorian society. While married, Wilde embarked on a passionate homosexual affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas's family, enraged at this relationship, attempted to expose Wilde for what they considered an unforgivable lifestyle. When their battle went to court, Wilde was ultimately convicted and sent to prison for indecency. After this debilitating experience, Wilde left to spend his last years in Paris. Although Wilde was condemned in his day for who he was, his writing and personal courage have restored him to a place of honor among writers. Among his many titles, Wilde is well known for such works as The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Importance of Being Earnest, De Profundis, and The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

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Opening Lines (Experimental)

The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim. The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.
The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography. Those who find ...