num_pages: 320
description: Oscar Wilde’s only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty.In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-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 grows day by day 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.
language: English
title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
titlecomplete: The Picture of Dorian Gray
characters: Basil Hallward, Adrian Singleton, James Vane, Dorian Gray, Henry Ashton, Lady Victoria Wotton, Lord Staveley, Sibyl Vane, Lady Gwendolen, Alan Campbell, Lord Henry Wotton, Duchess of Monmouth, Lady Narborough
genres: Fiction, 19th Century, LGBT, Classics, Gothic, Horror, Audiobook, Fantasy, Literature, Novels
ratings_count: 1437393
places: London, England, England
publisher: Penguin Books