Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray (Golden Eagle World Classics Collection) Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is a Gothic and philosophical novel, first published in 1890/1891. Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist impressed and infatuated by Dorian's beauty; he believes that Dorian's beauty is responsible for the new mood in his art as a painter. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic world view: that beauty and sensual fulfilment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Newly understanding that his beauty will fade, Dorian expresses the desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the picture, rather than he, will age and fade. The wish is granted, and Dorian pursues a libertine life of varied amoral experiences while staying young and beautiful; all the while, his portrait ages and records every sin. The polarizing novel offended the moral sensibilities of British book reviewers, some of whom said that Oscar Wilde merited prosecution for violating the laws guarding public morality. In response, Wilde aggressively defended his novel and art in correspondence with the British press. This edition features an aphoristic preface-a defense of the artist's rights and of art for art's sake- added after his correspondence with the British press. The content, style, and presentation of the preface made it famous in its own right, as a literary and artistic manifesto. The Golden Eagle World Classics Collection is a collection of pioneering works that shaped the understanding of human history and philosophy. From Austen to Shakespeare to Tolstoy, this collection contains the most influential thinkers across various centuries. The canon aims to provide a literary foundation to understand the past, the present, and the future of humanity. For more information on the collection, please go to www. GoldenEaglePublishers.com.