The Picture Of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde’s celebrated, scandalous, and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of the handsome Dorian Grey, whose obsession with his portrait leads him down a path of self-destruction—now available in a limited Olive Edition.

Dorian Grey is drawn to the convictions of Lord Henry Wotton, who believes one should value above all else beauty and self-indulgence. When Dorian has his portrait painted, he yearns to remain young while his portrait changes over time instead. As the years go by, Dorian descends further and further into a life filled with depravity and debauchery, giving no thought to the immoral acts he commits or their consequences. With the passing of time, Dorian’s wish is realized when his advancing age and declining moral character are depicted in his portrait and not in his own visage.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an unsettling, cautionary tale and an incisive critique of the decadence in Victorian society.

About the Author

Born in Ireland in 1856, Oscar Wilde was a noted essayist, playwright, fairy tale writer and poet, as well as an early leader of the Aesthetic Movement. His plays include: An Ideal Husband, Salome, A Woman of No Importance, and Lady Windermere's Fan. Among his best known stories are The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Canterville Ghost.