The Picture of Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is a remarkably handsome young man who views a painting of himself drawn by a friend and wishes that he could retain his youth and beauty, while the painting ages. His wish is granted, and he embarks on a life of debauchery and pleasure-seeking that leads to a predictably tragic and horrifying end.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s first and only novel, often regarded as his most famous literary work, and one of the most controversial books of the late nineteenth century. Its daring embrace of decadence and sexuality sparked an uproar in Victorian-era England, as did Wilde himself, who fell under a cloud of scandal that landed him in prison. Today, his novel is widely regarded as one of the great gothic horror tales, a suspenseful and thought-provoking masterpiece that is as disturbing as it is intriguing.

This Classic Edition is a restyled update of a public domain title, lightly edited for modern readers and professionally formatted for enhanced readability and visual appeal. It is part of a series of literature classics published by Virtual University Press for the reading enjoyment of book lovers around the world. We also publish companion study guides, workbooks, and academic editions intended for classroom use by literature and writing students and home-schoolers.