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The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Ebook274 pages4 hours

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman inthe eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The novel was a succès de scandale and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895. It has lost none of its power to fascinate and disturb.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 25, 2020
ISBN9782378077280
Author

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 and died on the 30th November 1900. He was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.

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Reviews for The Picture of Dorian Gray

Rating: 3.9946046108587008 out of 5 stars
4/5

8,804 ratings94 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I NEVER get tired of reading this book. It's a frightening dive into the world of self-loathing which drives a person to evil. An incredible story by Oscar Wilde, it's for sure to be enjoyed for years and years to come!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the most perfect novel in the world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Picture of Dorian Gray is filled with wonderful vocabulary and delightful turn-of-phrase. The characters are entertaining, especially Lord Henry's views on life and society. A bleak feeling arises as the plot develops and as Dorian slips further into madness, a perfect effect of excellent writing. This is not a book to bring light and warmth into a cold afternoon.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    After viewing his newly painted portrait, Dorian Gray prays that he stays as young and beautiful as his picture. When he eagerly dives into a life of sin and debauchery, he finds the tell-tale signs of it, not on his own face, but on his beautiful portrait. Creepy! Excellent!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was kind of underwhelmed by this one. Some interesting ideas were brought up, but the story itself wasn't as riveting as I thought it would be.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great story about some despicable and jaded people.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lush and sensual language, an extremely delicious (and malicious) wit, characters so well-drawn I could feel distaste and pity creeping over me—I wish Wilde had written more than one novel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What a truly remarkable book! Henry is a wonderful, funny, deep character and Dorian's hubris is captivating. Best book I've read in a long time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book gave me haunting dreams and made my spine tingle. I have read it several times, and it is tradition to read it before Spring finals so I can psych myself up for the challenge of all the essay writing and reading I have to do!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Has a bunch of classic, witty lines and is a quick, simple read. It didn't completely work for me on the level of the plot, though.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I read it so long ago I don't remember as much than I do from the movie.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Grade: 9/10Thoughts: It is definitely one of the better classics I have read. I enjoyed it thoroughly from start to finish and I thought the ending was very well written. Although it did drag at some points [mainly when Dorian kept blabbering on about the different types of jewels:], it made up for it very quickly with interesting character motivation. I have never had as many favorite scenes as I did for this book. Almost every page had a favorite scene.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A brilliant read, with gothic undertones. A monstrous shadow is at play throughout, which grows more and more immense as the story progresses. The author was fearless in his exploration of love and passion, sensation, intellect, youth, ageing, and morality. I finished with a lingering sadness that he was vilified for exploring such themes.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of my all time favorites. Makes you think.Story of Dorian Gray a perfectly beautiful boy then man who's beauty remains intact but a portrait of him retains his evil deads.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I can say I've read the book and will now understand other literary references to it, but I don't think I enjoyed this book. I suspect that most of the discourse and style is suited to a different time and culture that I do not relate to. The overall story and concept are intriguing and timeless, but if someone were to "re-write" this story in a modern context, I think I'd find that more accessible.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was beautifully written, It tells the story of an innocent boy, who wishes his self portrait could grow old instead of himself. So It does...as he grows older and wicked the portrait mirrors his very soul while his body never changes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Always loved Wilde, not only for his great gift of writing, but for his dominating personality. He had no time for anyone who was not down with his mission: art for art's sake, beauty in all forms for its own end. It seems obvious now, but it was completely revolutionary at the time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's a classic for a reason - good book. This is my first introduction to Oscar Wilde, but I have many more on the reading list, plus biographies, which I'm looking forward to!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very familiar story
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Before this, my only knowledge of Dorian Gray came from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Sean Connery...
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I couldn't connect with it but I felt it was well written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    this was a good book although what Dorian did kinda grossed me out. i had to read this book for school so i did not get as much out of it as i would have if i had read it on my own.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    A classic tale of what happens when a man sells his soul.Or doesn't sell it per se, but makes a trade--this fabulous painted portrait will age, and he will stay a young handsome age. And this rich arrogant young man is mean--and as the portrait ages and looks meaner and uglier, he struggles with knowing it is there, he struggles with his own behavior.A very interesting idea, but nearly all the characters are arrogant, wealthy, misogynistic racists. Not a fun read.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I never connected with this novel. Probably because I just read "The Importance of Being Earnest," from the very beginning, Lord Henry's aphoristic pronouncements felt forced. In a humorous play they make sense, but here they are awkward and out of place. I don't think the characters or story ever became fully authentic; in the worst parts, they just became abstractions.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Make no mistake, this book is worthy of its reputation. Issues of vanity, obsession and youth are presented in an unforgettable way. But for me, they weren't issues I found interesting.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Almost everyone is familiar with the basic outline of this story about a vain young man whose debauched, decadent, corrupt lifestyle never ages him, while his portrait ages hideously, bearing all the marks of his increasingly depraved behavior.This book has been added to my list of all-time favorites! The story was so layered and multi-faceted, and the satire so stinging. I am in awe of the innate talent and the craftsmanship of the author. Where has Oscar Wilde been all my life!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wilde didn't write many novels during his painfully short career; in fact, this is about the only one I can think of. It's incredibly beautiful though, and a very powerful comment about what beauty, and the search for it and conquest over it, can do to people.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful story of corruption of youth and brilliantly written.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A great story that held my interest to the end, but I couldn't help but feeling that it's a stretched novella rather than a short novel. I think the same story could have been told just as well in half the length.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dorian- see what happens when you make wishes and never say among other wishes?!

    This book was an extremely quick read for me. I was totally surprised by the twist and turns of the story line. But Lord Harry sometimes bothered me with his wimsical outlook on life an his soliqy's.

    Poor, poor Basil how I had wished (aow,) that he had won over Dorian instead of being corrupted by Lord Henry's view on life. I guess the good guy doesn't always win. Do they?

Book preview

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

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