The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The novel follows the life of a handsome young man who, after having his portrait painted, is upset to realize that the painting will remain beautiful while he ages. After expressing a wish that the painting would age instead of him, he is shocked to find that his wish comes true. As he indulges in a life of hedonism and immoral acts, his portrait becomes increasingly grotesque, reflecting the damage his actions have on his soul. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity, selfishness, and the pursuit of pleasure without regard for consequences.
The 141st greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 5th on Top 50 Irish Novels (James Joyce Center with The Irish Times)
- 16th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 17th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 31st on Big Read (Bulgarian) (Bulgaria)
- 34th on The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List (The Observer)
- 60th on 100 Essential Books (Bravo! Magazine)
- 118th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (Amazon.com (UK))
- 50 Books to Read Before You Die (Barnes and Noble)
- The Best Classics (The Times)
- The Great American Read (PBS)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- The Graphic Canon (Book)
- Best Books Ever (bookdepository.com)
- The Ultimate Book Bucket List: The 75 Best Books Of All Time (Refinery29)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher (Die Zeit)
- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (French literary magazine Transfuge)
- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written (Easton Press)
- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers (The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization)
- The 100 Best Books in the World (AbeBooks.de (in German))