The Picture Of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde · 1890

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray makes a Faustian bargain to sell his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Under the influence of the cynical Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence, aging and rotting with every sin. A succès de scandale that shocked early readers with its hints at unspeakable sins, this astounding novel of decadence, debauchery, and secrecy from one of Ireland's greatest writers was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. A timeless exploration of beauty, morality, and the consequences of a life lived solely for pleasure.