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Cover of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar WildeThe Picture of Dorian Gray
Classic · Fiction, Classics, Gothic

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde
1890 · 305 pages · Fiction
79.8Must-Read
Score Classic
Critics' pick · Lifetime bestseller
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Dorian Gray is a beautiful young man in London when his friend Basil paints his portrait. Under the influence of the witty, cynical Lord Henry, Dorian wishes the painting could grow old instead of him. His wish comes true. As he slides into a life of pleasure and cruelty, his face stays young, while the hidden portrait shows every sin.

Why it's worth reading

It was voted onto both PBS's Great American Read and the BBC's Big Read. It's Wilde's only novel, full of famous epigrams, and a dark, unforgettable fable.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's short. Some chapters stop the story for long descriptions of jewels, perfumes and music. It was used against Wilde at his trials.

By the numbers

79.8Must-Read Score
  • Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics51 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

On the lists
PBS Great American ReadGuardian 100 Best Novels in EnglishBBC's The Big Read

Reads as

Dark, Moving, Thought-provoking

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Quick answers

Is The Picture of Dorian Gray worth reading?

Yes. It was voted onto both PBS's Great American Read and the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #396 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.8 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Picture of Dorian Gray about?

Dorian Gray is a beautiful young man in London when his friend Basil paints his portrait. Under the influence of the witty, cynical Lord Henry, Dorian wishes the painting could grow old instead of him. His wish comes true. As he slides into a life of pleasure and cruelty, his face stays young, while the hidden portrait shows every sin.

How long does it take to read The Picture of Dorian Gray?

About 8 hours (305 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Picture of Dorian Gray?

If you liked it, try De Profundis by Oscar Wilde, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley or Tales of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe.