Picture of Dorian Gray

Name: Picture of Dorian Gray
Rating: 4.1 (117 reviews)
Author: Unknown Author
ISBN: 9780008516116

by Unknown Author

4.1

(117 ratings)

240 pages2021HarperCollins Publishers LimitedISBN 9780008516116

Fiction Classics History Horror Mystery

Open in BookOwl Download on App Store

About this book

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.' When Basil Hallward paints the portrait of young, handsome Dorian Gray, he falls prey to his dazzling beauty. Afraid that his youth and looks will waste away, Dorian expresses a wish that his portrait, and not he, will age and fade over time. His wish is granted, and over the ensuing years, Dorian indulges in every kind of vice and pleasure, never ageing nor disfiguring. Only his portrait, hidden to the world, bears the marks of his actions, and as his soul grows ever more wasted and corrupted, devastating consequences lie in wait. The Picture of Dorian Gray is an exploration of the purpose of art, the superficial nature of youth and beauty, and the conflict between morality and intemperance. First published in its complete, uncensored form in 1891, it is Oscar Wilde's only novel.

Publication Details

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Published: 2021
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9780008516116
Language: en

About Unknown Author

An Irish writer, poet, and prominent aesthete. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest. As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.