The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oxford World's Classics)

By Oscar Wilde, Mariella De Souza, Alexandre Barbosa de Souza, et al.

Book Overview

Since its first publication in 1890, Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, has remained the subject of critical controversy. Acclaimed by some as an instructive moral tale, it has been denounced by others for its implicit immorality. After having his portrait painted, Dorian Gray is captivated by his own beauty. Tempted by his world-weary friend, decadent friend Lord Henry Wotton, he wished to stay young forever and pledges his very soul to keep his good looks. As Dorian's slide into crime and cruelty progresses, he stays magically youthful, while his beautiful portrait changes, revealing the hideous corruption of moral decay.
Set in fin-de-si cle London, the novel traces a path from the studio of painter Basil Howard to the opium dens of the East End. The text of this edition is derived from the Oxford English Texts, which prints a critically established version of the first book edition of 1891. Also included is a new, fuller introduction, which considers the difference between the 1890 and 1891 texts, Wilde's range of sources, significant critical approaches to the novel and its reputation since 1891, full explanatory notes that identify Wilde's sources, and an up-to-date-bibliography.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192807293
• ISBN13: 9780192807298
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 0.4" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

love dorian gray

this book is genuinely a great journey as you read it. from the mystical aspect, to watching the character cook up and unravel, you easily get lost in the story. it’s not as stuffy and slow as many classics tend to be. highly recommend! the book itself came in great shape.

Dorian Gray is a good story

The story is fine, but the book was missing a couple of important pages in the beginning. They were ripped out:( The book was rated as a “good”. That’s not good! Especially when the beginning of the book has the important parts.

Enthralling. Classic

oscar wilde is such a vivid author you feel like you're in the book.

A bit overrated

Honestly, the beginning and the end are the most entertaining and gripping part of the book. A few of the later chapters were very very slow and basically goes on and on in mindless descriptions of the things he collects and stories he becomes infatuated with. It was mehh in my opinion.

The Best Classic

This is the best classic I've ever read, and nothing will convince me otherwise.

Lovee

i love this book , gives me gay vibes but im only on like chapter 3

The Ugly Side Of Beauty

I didn’t find anything I didn’t enjoy in this story, I would’ve liked it to be longer, granted, Lord Henry’s character was pretty unlikable but also very interesting, he poisoned the mind of naive and beautiful Dorian, and was the biggest influence to his downfall, sometimes it sucks to be so beautiful.

A Thrilling Read

I first was introduced to Dorian Gray through a book club, and I thought 'Oh no, Oscar Wilde, here I go, another hard to read boring society book". I was wrong. Within the first two chapters of Dorian Gray I was intrigued and fascinated. This book deals with several issues that are as important now as they are today: the way our culture worships beauty and youth, an admiration that boarders on homosexual love, virtues, the differences between men and women, and what art is and what makes it truly art. Dorian Gray is a beautiful young man, who sees a portrait of himself and says "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young...If only it were the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the portrait to grow old...I would give my soul for that!" The book takes off from there, leading you from a small theater to great parties. While younger readers may find some of the wording as tough as an old gym shoe, anyone older than 13 with an interest in mystery, romance, and how society runs, will find this a pleasurable and haunting read.