The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde1890
Wilde wrote a Gothic novel that doubles as a devastating critique of Victorian hypocrisy — a beautiful man stays young while his portrait rots.
novelEnglishaccessiblemedium · ~6.0h
Influence
6.5/10
Popularity
8.5/10
“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.”
Why It Matters
Wilde wrote a Gothic novel that doubles as a devastating critique of Victorian hypocrisy — a beautiful man stays young while his portrait rots. The premise — that your sins show up somewhere, even if not on your face — is one of the most potent metaphors in English fiction. The book is also Wilde's sharpest collection of epigrams, which is saying something.
The 
Take
Personal reviewGreat witticisms, decent concept, but really I wanted way more lord Henry, and less Dorian gray
Notable Quotes
“All art is quite useless.”
“To define is to limit.”