The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by the renowned author Oscar Wilde, is a captivating novel that immerses you into a world of beauty, youth, and morality. Published by Wordsworth Editions Ltd in 1992, this book has stood the test of time, becoming a classic in the literary world. The genre of this novel is philosophical fiction, a genre that Oscar Wilde mastered with his eloquent writing style and profound thought. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a timeless piece that explores the human condition and the consequences of our actions. It's a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature. Published by Wordsworth Editions Ltd, it's a testament to their commitment to bringing high-quality literature to the world. Written in English, this book is accessible to a wide range of readers.

With an Introduction and Notes by John M.L. Drew, University of Buckingham.

Wilde's only novel, first published in 1890, is a brilliantly designed puzzle, intended to tease conventional minds with its exploration of the myriad interrelationships between art, life, and consequence. From its provocative Preface, challenging the reader to believe in 'art for art's sake', to its sensational conclusion, the story self-consciously experiments with the notion of sin as an element of design.

Yet Wilde himself underestimated the consequences of his experiment, and its capacity to outrage the Victorian establishment. Its words returned to haunt him in his court appearances in 1895, and he later recalled the 'note of doom' which runs like 'a purple thread' through its carefully crafted prose.