The Picture of Dorian Gray

By Oscar Wilde

Categories: LGBTQ+ Books, Literature & Fiction

Oscar Wilde's only novel first appeared in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. He revised and expanded it for the 1891 book edition, adding a famous preface of aphorisms on art. The painter Basil Hallward completes a portrait of the beautiful young Dorian Gray. Under the influence of the witty, cynical Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian wishes that the picture would age instead of him, and he sets out on a life devoted to pleasure. The book's frank decadence led some reviewers to call it immoral.

Recommended by 4 people

• Jenn Im
• Balaji Srinivasan: “There's this book called The Picture of Dorian Gray, right?”
• Sam Altman
• PewDiePie: “Another fine piece of literature.”