The Picture of Dorian Gray

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 ïrst appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel-s corrupting inïuence, he responded that there is, in fact, 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 ïrst appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel-s corrupting inïuence, he responded that there is, in fact, -a terrible moral in .- 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.