The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

59 ratings, 20 reviews

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's best-known work and only novel. Published as a novella first in 1890, it features a beautiful young man who is swept up in a Faustian bargain. Dorian Gray, who has recently been inspired to live as an aesthete, becomes the subject of a painting by his friend Basil Hallward. The painter, who believes that Dorian has opened up a new vein of brilliance in his art, claims it is his finest work, and promptly falls in love with young man. The man responsible for Gray's hedonistic mindset is Lord Henry Wotton (or Wilde himself), a man who espouses a life of sensual pleasure over morality or ethics. Upon witnessing the painting, Dorian expresses his wish, however whimsical, that the painting would age and not he. When his wish becomes true, Dorian, who feels no repercussions for his actions, spirals into a life of of vice and debauchery.

Upon its publication in novella form, both in the US and in England, reviewers condemned Wilde's work as horribly shocking and amoral. To address his critics, Wilde expanded his work into a full length novel, which was published in 1891. It included a preface of epigrams by Wilde which elucidate the aesthetic and decadent ideals in life and art: its essence is "art for art's sake," which upended the dreary notion that art should have social, moral or utilitarian purposes. Life is fleeting, and the most important thing is to relish the exquisite sensations life brings, especially those stimulated by a work of art.

Downloads on Classicly are completely free- these books are public domain.

We don’t pay a cent, so neither do you.

Write a review.

Merlin Ellis

March 31, 2013

Well written, but creepy, book about extreme selfishness.

Zuzana Forrest

March 19, 2013

One of my favorite tales.

Ranko Mirovic

January 08, 2013

Fantastic

Kakah Akhenaton

December 26, 2012

As all wilde books, it repeats itself a little. Its still amazingly well written, beautiful and with so many wise sentences to underline.

Jeanette Curry

December 21, 2012

Absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down!

Sashank Kini

November 14, 2012

Well I know Wilde was a hedonist and being a great fan of Tolstoy and his ideology, I was annoyed by the flagrant attention Wilde draws towards opulence. There is an entire chapter covering every single hedonistic pursuits Dorian Gray indulges in, and that was my boiling point. The 'suspense' and 'thriller' in the story are surprisingly well written though, and I was impressed with how Wilde increased the pacing of the novel towards the end. The entire story would've much better had Wilde not spent half the book praising the characters, their features (who really cares about the shape of his bose, the partings of the hair) and other stuff in his typical highfaluted way.

C Devries

October 30, 2012

I remember watching this movie decades ago and being frightened out of my wits. The book is much less frightening or perhaps it is just that I am older. It is a good story!

Jon Callaghan

August 18, 2012

Just spectacular. Each page drips with a vicous cocktail of passion, evil, beauty and human frailty. There are too many oneliners to highlight.