Oscar Wilde 
The Picture of Dorian Gray 

Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray created an uproar in Victorian England due to its elements of homoeroticism and its unconventional morality. Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length painting by Basil Hallward. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, whose view is that beauty and sensual fulfilment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Enthralled by this idea, Dorian sells his soul to ensure that the picture, and not he, will age and fade. The wish granted, Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied and amoral experiences while his portrait ages recording every sin. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic example of 19th century Gothic fiction with strong themes interpreted from Faust.

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Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversation, Wilde was one of the best-known literary personalities of his day. One of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s, he is remembered best for his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Having spent two years in prison, Wilde died destitute in Paris at the age of 46.