Picture of Dorian Gray (Wordsworth Classics)

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

Book Overview

An astounding novel of decadence, debauchery, and secrecy from one of Ireland's greatest writers. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read Enthralled by his own... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1853260150
• ISBN13: 9781853260155
• Release Date: May 1992
• Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.5" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Who wants to look young forever?

Basil, who up until now was a mediocre painter, after meeting Dorian Gray, a young Adonis, was inspired to create a masterpiece into which he puts himself. Against Basil's wishes, Basil’s friend Lord Henry influences Dorian Gray. Dorian looks at his portrait and realizes that while the portrait will stay young forever, he will grow old; so, Dorian makes a wish that if only he could stay young forever, the portrait could age. At first, Dorian does not realize his wish has been granted. He falls in love with a beautiful young actress who is every woman that Shakespeare ever wrote about. But once again due to Lord Henry's influence, he realizes that she is just a common girl. Starting with absent-minded acts, Dorian slowly sinks into debauchery. And with every new act, his picture becomes more grotesque while Dorian stays as young and innocent-looking as the day his picture was painted. What will become of Dorian? What will become of Dorian's painting? What would you do if you were Dorian? Oscar Wilde paints a picture himself as he describes Dorian Gray's dilemma. And we, as readers, travel with Dorian as each decision is made. In some places in the story, Oscar Wilde seems to drag on and on with detail; however, we find that this detail is necessary to set the next scene. Oscar Wilde himself led a risky life that led to a jail sentence; his attitude can be seen in the dialogue in this book.

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.

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.

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.