Picture of Dorian Gray

A novel that has fascinated readers for over a century, The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's fable of a fashionable young man who attains eternal youth and beauty while only his portrait grows old, hidden away in a locked room. Despite the young man's disintegration into a life of crime, his face never reflects the moral decay. Instead the portrait records every deed by turning his once handsome features into a hideous mask.

Written with Wilde's trademark biting sense of humor and his gift for shrewd observation, The Picture of Dorian Gray caused something of a scandal when it first appeared in Lippincott's Magazine in early form in 1890. At the time, Wilde was accused of having a corrupting influence.

This edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray, with illustrations by Tony Ross and extended captions unique to the Whole Story series, provides background information that modern readers could otherwise access only through a broad range of supplemental research—from biographical profiles of Oscar Wilde and his contemporaries to depictions of London's art world in the late nineteenth century. This distinctive approach places The Picture of Dorian Gray within the context of its era, bringing it vividly to life.

Note:

This is a classic that we do have some reservations about offering. Some of its captions bring forward Wilde's preoccupation with homosexuality and even arrest for gross indecency. While not condoning his personal life, we believe his work has merit.

Currently out of print. We recommend checking addall for used copies, getting the Dover Thrift Edition, or reading it online.