The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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, decadent friend Lord Henry Wotton, he wishes 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-siècle London, the novel traces a path from the studio of painter Basil Hallward to the opium dens of the East End.

The text of this edition is derived from the Oxford English Texts, presenting a critically established version of the first book edition of 1891. Also included is a new, fuller introduction considering the difference between the 1890 and 1891 texts, Wilde's range of sources and the novel's critical reputation since 1891, along with full explanatory notes identifying Wilde's sources and an up-to-date bibliography.

For over 100 years, Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text and up-to-date bibliographies for further study.

This book is featured on The Book Club with Michael Knowles, PragerU's show dedicated to the great books of Western civilization. In this episode, Michael Knowles is joined by commentator Will Witt to discuss the dangers of vanity and immorality found in Wilde's novel, and the ultimate cost of a life lived without virtue.

📺 Watch the episode: Will Witt — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Own this Oxford World's Classics edition of Wilde's only novel, and discover why the question of what we'd trade for eternal youth still unsettles readers well over a century later.