Captivated by his own stunning portrait, Dorian Gray makes a fateful pact, trading his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Under the influence of his enigmatic friend Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian plunges into a double life, secretly indulging in his deepest desires while maintaining the façade of a respectable gentleman in society. His portrait, however, bears the marks of his hidden decadence, growing increasingly corrupted as Dorian remains untouched by time.

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was a scandalous success, shocking early readers with its bold exploration of morality, hedonism, and the consequences of vanity. The novel's provocative themes later played a pivotal role in Wilde's infamous trial in 1895. This definitive edition includes contemporary reviews that condemned the novel's perceived immorality and features an insightful introduction by Peter Ackroyd, offering a rich historical context for modern readers.