Picture of Dorian Gray

Packaged in handsome and affordable trade editions, Clydesdale Classics is a new series of essential literary works. From the musings of literary geniuses like Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to the striking personal narrative of Harriet Jacobs in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, this new series is a comprehensive collection of our literary history through the words of the exceptional few.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece and lone novel, has endured as a significant piece of literature partly due to its philosophical nature and artful prose, and partly because of the stir it caused upon its initial publication. Published originally in 1890 in Lippincott’s Magazine, The Picture of Dorian Gray—often deemed by Wilde’s contemporaries to be “indecent”—tells the story of an attractive young man eponymous with the title who desires to be eternally young. Dorian is the subject of a portrait by a painter named Basil Hallward, who deems Gray’s beauty to be inconceivably great. Rather than having to age himself, young and egotistical Dorian longs for the painting to age instead so that he can remain young and beautiful. When he sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth—a concept Wilde derived from the German legend of Faust—Dorian begins a life of vice and debauchery with its sole aim being pleasure. Meanwhile, the painting documents each of his sins within its appearance. When Dorian confronts the painting again with Hallward, a slew of unfortunate events unfold.

Abundant with rich, philosophical themes and commentary, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic tale that warns its readers of the dangers that come with narcissism, self-indulgence, and ignorance.

Ambalat in editii comerciale frumoase si accesibile, Clydesdale Classics este o noua serie de opere literare esentiale. De la meditatiile geniilor literare precum Mark Twain in Aventurile lui Huckleberry Finn pana la naratiunea personala izbitoare a lui Harriet Jacobs in Incidente in viata unei fete sclave, aceasta noua serie este o colectie cuprinzatoare a istoriei noastre literare prin cuvintele exceptionalului Poza lui Dorian Gray, capodopera lui Oscar Wilde si romanul singuratic, a rezistat ca o piesa semnificativa a literaturii, partial datorita naturii sale filosofice si prozei ingenioase, si partial datorita agitatiei pe care a provocat-o la publicarea sa initiala.