In this celebrated work, his only novel, Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late nineteenth-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: as Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait day by day grows into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.
Unaltered Dover (1993) republication of the work as published by Ward, Lock and Company, London, 1891.