This Victorian Gothic novel is about moral decay and the evanescence of beauty and youth. Young Dorian Gray meets the charismatic Lord Henry Wotton at Basil Hallward’s studio by whom he is currently being painted. Basil sees Dorian as his new muse, infatuated by his beauty. Dorian is enthralled by the Lord’s hedonistic world view and starts prioritising the pursuit of beauty and pleasure. In an attempt to stay young and beautiful forever, he sells his soul to the portrait. And although his appearance remains perfect, his portrait records every sin…

The novel would be suitable for interdisciplinary teaching in subjects such as Philosophy, Ethics or Art.

Novel · United Kingdom · 1890