Oscar. Wilde

Jeffrey Eugenides

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

California

Introduction by Jeffrey Eugenides • Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Written in his distinctively dazzling manner, Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it ﬁrst appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting inﬂuence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” Just a few years later, the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, which resulted in his imprisonment. Of Dorian Gray’s relationship to autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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Oscar Wilde

PangoBooks readers find the book captivating yet complex, showcasing brilliant writing and iconic characters. Many appreciate its compelling exploration of themes like class, privilege, and the nuances of romantic love, particularly in a same-sex context. While some feel the latter half of the book drags, the first half is widely praised for its intrigue. It’s frequently described as dark, beautiful, haunting, and thought-provoking, fitting well within the dark academia genre. Overall, it's celebrated for its classic status, rich prose, and deep, troubling narrative on the corruption of the soul.

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Florida

Spellbound before his own portrait, Dorian Gray utters a fateful wish. In exchange for eternal youth he gives his soul, to be corrupted by the malign influence of his mentor, the aesthete and hedonist Lord Henry Wotton. The novel was met with moral outrage by contemporary critics who, dazzled perhaps by Wilde's brilliant style, may have confused the author with his creation, Lord Henry, to whom even Dorian protests, 'You cut life to pieces with your epigrams.'. Encouraged by Lord Henry to substitute pleasure for goodness and art for reality, Dorian tries to watch impassively as he brings misery and death to those who love him. But the picture is watching him, and, made hideous by the marks of sin, it confronts Dorian with the reflection of his fall from grace, the silent bearer of what is in effect a devastating moral judgement.

First published in 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of a young man named Dorian Gray, who is the subject of a portrait painted by artist Basil Hallward. Upon seeing the finished portrait, Dorian wishes that he could remain young and beautiful forever while the portrait ages instead of him. As Dorian indulges in a hedonistic lifestyle, his outward appearance remains unblemished while the portrait reflects his moral and physical degradation. The novel explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of living a life without consequences.

Category - Fiction / Classics

Format - Paperback

Condition - Excellent

Listed - A month ago

Views - 3

Wishes - 3

Ships From - California

Est. Publication Date - Jun 1998

The Picture of Dorian Gray

ISBN: 9780375751516

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Category - Fiction / Classics

Format - Paperback

Condition - Excellent

Listed - A month ago

Views - 3

Wishes - 3

Ships From - California

Est. Publication Date - Jun 1998

The Picture of Dorian Gray

ISBN: 9780375751516

Publisher Description

What readers are saying about this book

The Picture of Dorian Gray

By:

$3.00

Meet the seller

Discover more

The Picture of Dorian Gray

By: Oscar Wilde

Pango Buyer Protection

More from this seller

Additional titles by Oscar Wilde

'The Picture of Dorian Gray' readers also enjoyed:

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