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The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories
The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories Author:Oscar Wilde In his introduction to The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde said, "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book." But throughout the book, Wilde's characters breezily debate morality and the great subjects of life, tossing about the witty, barbed observations that only Wilde could assemble. — Adding a touch of the s... more »upernatural to his usual satirical look at upper-crust England, Wilde crafted a classic modern myth--the lovely young aristocrat who stays beautiful while a portrait of him, acting as a mirror of his soul, withers.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed Dorian Gray arrives at the studio of painter Basil Hallward a guileless young man, but slowly changes as the painter and his cynical counterpart, Lord Henry Wotton, fight over the direction of Gray's soul.
As the two men spar in a witty war of words, exchanging epithets and aphorisms, Gray becomes worldly wise, taking advantage of his ability to charm those around him. But one day, after a rash act of cruelty to a woman in love with him, Gray notices his portrait has changed, a cruel smile has twisted its once-perfect lips...
This volume also includes four pieces of Wilde's short fiction: "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime," "The Canterville Ghost," "The Model Millionaire," and "Sphinx Without a Secret."« less