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Enter the twisted world of Victorian London through Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, a captivating and thought-provoking novel that follows an ambitious young man as his desire for beauty leads him down an increasingly dark path. Drawing upon themes such as hedonism and morality, Wilde paints a vivid picture of human depravity in this timeless classic. Explore the duality between beauty and ugliness, pleasure and pain – all captured in Wilde's stunning prose.The Picture of Dorian Grayby Oscar Wilde is a philosophical novel first published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical Lippincott's Monthly Magazine. The novel had six additional chapters when it was released as a book in 1891.The narrative opens with Basil Hallward and his witty and amoral friend Lord Henry Wotton discussing a recent work in the art studio. Basil protests with Henry's suggestion that the painting, a portrait of an incredibly attractive young man, be presented because he worries that it would reveal his fascination with the artwork's subject, Dorian Gray.When Dorian eventually shows up, he is enthralled as Henry describes his viewpoint that one should follow one's inclinations in order to enjoy life to the fullest. Dorian states that he would sell his soul if the image became old and wrinkly while he stayed youthful and attractive, and Henry adds that youth and beauty are transient. Dorian keeps the picture in his house, but needs to hide it some time later.The Picture of Dorian Gray was one of the most polarising books when it was first published because of its subject matter, presentation, and literary technique. It has been often adapted into other media mediums and is now regarded as a literary masterpiece.“We live in an age that reads too much to be wise, and that thinks too much to be beautiful.”“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”″‘Each of us has heaven and hell in him, Basil,’ cried Dorian with a wild gesture of despair.”"There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.""Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes."“To be good is to be in harmony with one’s self.”“And beauty is a form of genius -- is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or spring-time, or the reflection in dark waters of that silver shell we call the moon. It cannot be questioned. It has its divine right of sovereignty. It makes princes of those who have it. You smile? Ah! when you have lost it you won’t smile...”“People say sometimes that beauty is only superficial. That may be so, but at least it is not so superficial as thought is. To me, beauty is the wonder of wonders. It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances.”“I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me. Why should it keep what I must lose? Every moment that passes takes something from me and gives something to it. Oh, if it were only the other way! If the picture could change, and I could be always what I am now! Why did you paint it? It will mock me some day -- mock me horribly!”“Lord Henry went out to the garden and found Dorian Gray burying his face in the great cool lilac-blossoms, feverishly drinking in their perfume as if it had been wine. He came close to him and put his hand upon his shoulder. ‘You are quite right to do that,’ he murmured. ‘Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.‘”About this BookOriginal 1891 ScripturePhilosophical Novel5 x 8InchesMatte CoverWhite Paper19th Century Historical Map

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