The Picture of Dorian Gray

Written by Oscar Wilde

Narrated by Sebastian Blackwood

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" immerses readers in a world where the pursuit of beauty and pleasure supersedes morality. The young, handsome Dorian Gray remains eternally youthful, while a portrait of him reflects his soul's decay, bearing the consequences of his hedonistic actions. As Dorian navigates high society with a sinister invulnerability, his external allure contrasts starkly with his internal corruption. A haunting and philosophical tale of vanity, obsession, and the dark depths of human nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Interactive Media
• Release date: May 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9781787369894

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, novelist and playwright. Born to a pair of Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin, Wilde had a classical education and spoke fluent French and German even as a child. He attended Trinity College in Dublin and then transferred to Oxford to complete his studies. After graduation, Wilde moved to London to join the emerging "aesthetic" movement and begin life as one of his era's most important and infamous social and literary figures.Wilde almost immediately became a fixture in London high society, celebrated for his intellect and his razor-sharp wit. Unsure of what kind of writer he wanted to be, Wilde continued writing poetry - publishing a collection of verse in 1881 at age 27 - and traveled to America as a lecturer on aestheticism (an art movement that celebrated the simple beauty of art over the deeper or political themes behind it). His many essays and dialogues on this subject would eventually lead him to publish his first and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890.Eventually, Wilde was drawn to write for the stage, beginning with Salome in 1891, but swiftly transitioning to comedies, penning four of the era's most celebrated and enduring plays: A Woman of No Importance, Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband and his triumph, The Importance of Being Earnest, which was still running in London when Wilde became embroiled in the legal drama that would lead to his downfall and eventual death. But his poems, plays and sole novel live on and Wilde is now considered one of the most accomplished writers of his era. His works continue to be performed around the world and have been adapted multiple times to the stage and screen.