The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s only novel, first published in 1890 in an abbreviated form and expanded for book publication in 1891.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde’s only novel. It was first published in 1890 in an abbreviated form and expanded for book publication in 1891. The novel is a Gothic philosophical work about a young man whose portrait ages and reflects his moral corruption while he remains outwardly youthful.

Publication history

The work first appeared as a shorter version in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in 1890 and was then revised and expanded for book publication in 1891. The later version added chapters and included Wilde’s preface.

Plot and characters

The story follows Dorian Gray, whose wish to remain young is linked to a portrait that changes while he does not. Key figures include the painter Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton, whose influence shapes Dorian’s descent.

Themes

The novel explores beauty, youth, morality, influence, and the consequences of indulgence. It is also closely associated with aestheticism and decadent literature.

Reception and legacy

The novel was heavily criticised by some contemporary reviewers, but it later became one of Wilde’s best-known works. It has been widely adapted for film, stage, and other media.