2026 January & February - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde > Likes and Comments

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The Picture of Dorian Gray was a succès de scandale. Early readers were shocked by its hints at unspeakable sins, and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895.

I've read the intros and first chapter and loving it so far. Excited for this.

I am definitely in for this one.

I love this book. Not sure I will reread, but will keep an eye on the thread.

I have read both the original edition (published in 1890) and the revised edition (published in 1891). Liked them both but the revised one is much better, in my opinion.

I'll start this soon. Not sure if I have the original or revised edition. Is there a big difference?

I tried to read this a year or two ago, but didn’t get too far in before I lost interest. I think I'll give it a second chance because I think I wasn't in the mood for it at the time.

I hope it works for you this time, Kim. I've read it twice.

Book Nerd wrote: "I'll start this soon. Not sure if I have the original or revised edition. Is there a big difference?"

What's published now is the revised edition. I'm sure that's what you have. That's what I have as well. If my memory serves me right, the revised version has more chapters and some of the original chapters were rewritten. As a story, it is the better one.

Rosemarie wrote: "I hope it works for you this time, Kim. I've read it twice."

Thanks, Rosemarie. I'm going to try it on audio to see if that's a better fit.

Piyangie wrote: "What's published now is the revised edition. I'm sure that's what you have. That's what I have as well. If my memory serves me right, the revised version has more chapters and some of the original chapters were rewritten. As a story, it is the better one."
Thanks

I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱

Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

You'll be fine, Belem. I don't read horror. But I read this one twice, thrice if you count the original version. I didn’t even know it came under the horror genre until I saw Book Nerd's list. :)

Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

It's not a typical horror story. Most of the book is regular fiction.

It's not really scary, it's just a scary idea, I guess you could say.
I'm about halfway through. It reminds me of Faust in a lot of ways.

it's indeed very Faustian. I believe I have never thought about it in this way

I really liked it. The ending was perfect. Henry's inverted morality could get pretty comical.

I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading.

Mimi wrote: "I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading."

Great!

Mimi wrote: "I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading."
Hope you like it.

Piyangie wrote: "Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

You'll be fine, Belem. I don't read horror. But I read this one twice, thrice if you coun..."

I've read 20%, and I'm loving it. 😍

I'd read it in November (Polish translation), than listened to English audiobook in December - it's one of my favourite classics, even though I wouldn't put it in horror genre :) It's a great study of a narcissist who have all the means to indulge in his hedonistic urges, while facing no consequences.

This is up next for me as an audio book. I found I could access the book through kindle prime and audio came with it.

Belem wrote: "I've read 20%, and I'm loving it. 😍"
The writing's great, isn't it?

Barbara wrote: "I'd read it in November (Polish translation), than listened to English audiobook in December - it's one of my favourite classics, even though I wouldn't put it in horror genre :) It's a great study of a narcissist who have all the means to indulge in his hedonistic urges, while facing no consequences."
But when the consequences catch up with him it's pretty horrifying.

Catherine wrote: "This is up next for me as an audio book. I found I could access the book through kindle prime and audio came with it."
Enjoy.

Book Nerd wrote: "I really liked it. The ending was perfect. Henry's inverted morality could get pretty comical."

Agree :) Finished last night. Mostly enjoyed and I say mostly only because I think I was reading at times in a distracted state so I don't feel a fair judge. But generally, I find it a great blend of witty, entertaining, with great writing and surprising story. Interesting thoughts on society, art, morality, and sensual pleasure. I would be curious to read more from Wilde after this experience.

I managed to finish it this tine around. I didn’t dislike it, but I think it dragged in places. I get that I'm not a nineteenth century gentleman of London, so I can't understand the stuffy lifestyle that being of that class and notoriety would entail. However, the long passages followed by near endless dialogue bored me at times. The action and conflict, when they did occur, were a welcomed reprieve. Overall, it ebbed and flowed, dragging on at times. I think 'overhyped' is the best word to describe my overall feelings.

Kim
I started to read this a long time ago and found it to be the same.
Have to give you credit though for finishing it...I did not.

Kim wrote: "I managed to finish it this tine around. I didn’t dislike it, but I think it dragged in places. I get that I'm not a nineteenth century gentleman of London, so I can't understand the stuffy lifesty..."
Well, it's good that you gave it a try and enjoyed it to a point.

Kelly_Hunsaker_reads wrote: "I love this book. Not sure I will reread, but will keep an eye on the thread."

Same! Loved this one but no plan to read again. I'm excited to see what everyone thinks about it.

Bernard wrote: "I am definitely in for this one."

I read this a while ago and I'm really looking forward to seeing what others think of it.

Indeneri wrote: "I read this a while ago and I'm really looking forward to seeing what others think of it."
As I said, I liked it. I thought the writing was great and the ending was perfect.

I liked it as well-it had a fitting ending.

I enjoyed reading this, especially with the footnotes that showed how Wilde changed the story. As others have said, a very poetic ending.

(view spoiler)[ Clearly Wilde was as guilty of putting himself in his art just as Basil was. I was reflecting on the story a few days after finishing and had to check that Basil did see the painting before he died, and explicitly what Dorian saw. I had begun to think that the painting had not in fact changed at all and that what Dorian saw was what he didn't want to see about himself. Basil's reaction after years of not seeing the picture would then be the horror of seeing how much of his desire for Dorian was indeed in the picture. However, that is not the case, it is a transformative painting. (hide spoiler)]

Why is this in the horror section?

I ask that question as well. The story seems, to me, to be more of an exploration of character and the downfall of an individual than a horror story. Yes, the picture does change and Dorian appears not to age, but that seems to be the extent of what I consider horror. At its time it may have seemed more horrific than now.

That's my impression as well, Catherine.
I find I cannot read the new horror at all.

Hey, it's tagged as horror and I wanted to read it. I found it at least as horrifying as The Haunting of Hill House.

Book Nerd wrote: "Hey, it's tagged as horror and I wanted to read it. I found it at least as horrifying as The Haunting of Hill House."

I thought Hill House was boring. I really liked the Wilde book.

It didn't really work out for me. Really monotonous and just dragged.

Catherine, Adonijah and anyone else interested.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an 1890 philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel is considered because it uses the supernatural to explore psychological terror.
Its horrifying reputation stems from the physical corruption of Dorian's soul being transferred to his portrait, which grows increasingly hideous while his real face remains perfectly youthful.

The novel fits squarely into the horror genre due to a few key factors:

The Supernatural Pact:
Similar to Faust, the premise revolves around a Faustian deal where Dorian magically retains eternal youth while his sins physically manifest on the canvas.

The Monstrous Self:
The terror is deeply psychological. The true horror lies not just in the grotesque painting, but in the irredeemable corruption of Dorian's soul and his gradual descent into murder, blackmail, and madness.

Victorian Gothic Roots:
Published during a Gothic revival, it embodies the classic Victorian fear of hidden sins and the duality of human nature, making it a peer to stories like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Hope this information helps the reason "Why".

Thank you for this information. It does help. But I still don't think Dorian Gray lives up to the original gothic horror found in The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein, The Monk, The Woman in White and much of Edgar Allen Poe's work. Dorian Gray does fit into this category, but, for me, doesn't carry the same atmosphere of horror as the others. I'm glad I read it; it's been on my TBR list for a while, but just feel a little let down by the actuality of the novel.

I have never read it Catherine. Horror is really not a preference genre of mine, but it is good to know that it might be a possible good read for some of us.

Horror is such a broad genre; there is likely something in there you like.

Lesle wrote: "Catherine, Adonijah and anyone else interested.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an 1890 philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel is considered because it uses the supernatural to explore psycho..."

I find this clear and helpful, thanks, Lesle

Jen wrote: "I find this clear and helpful, thanks, Lesle ..."

I took it as something needed looked into so that we could understand the why...
Your more than welcome Jen.

Lesle wrote: "Catherine, Adonijah and anyone else interested.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is an 1890 philosophical fiction and Gothic horror novel is considered because it uses the supernatural to explore psycho..."
Yep, that helps.

Book Nerd wrote: "Yep, that helps....."

Here are a few examples of each.

Gothic Horror in the 1890s:
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde
Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker
The Turn of the Screw (1898) by Henry James

Horror books in the late 1800s:
The Great God Pan (1890) by Arthur Machen
The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) by H. G. Wells
The King in Yellow (1895) by Robert W. Chambers
The Beetle (1897) by Richard Marsh