Can you imagine a better story about a sexy guy who remains sexy and can eat and drink what he wants, smoke and ho-around and yet still maintain his looks?

Oscar Wilde did. He was gay and liked his men fancy and good looking.

His book was censored in 1890 because of what was seen as its immoral sexual content, both heterosexual and homosexual in nature. According to Antonio Sanna, the heterosexual content was considered too vulgar for readers in the nineteenth century, and the homosexual content was considered sinful and illegal.

Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.

But back to the book.

The Blurb

Oscar Wilde’s only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty.

In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde’s most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind.

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Dorian is a relatable main character who never fully fits into the role of protagonist or antagonist, which I would argue is closer to reality than the strong black and white of a fairy tale. His vices are kept in the dark which allows readers to place their own versions of what the most depraved acts might be. This is an intelligent choice made by Wilde as no one person will have the exact same experience when reading the novel. It also allows the text to move with the times, it never feels outdated as we as the reader can see modern-day alternatives to the crimes he may be committing.

Supporting characters such as Basil, Sybil, and Lord Henry Wotton are not wasted, they all make significant impacts on Dorian himself and are all well-rounded and complex in themselves. My personal favourite character is Sybil Vane who I think is a beautifully written character who appears so relatable and tragic. Coincidentally, my favourite quote from this book describes this character, “The girl laughed again. The joy of a caged bird was in her voice.”

The plot advances at a pleasantly quick pace, which is so rare in classic titles. This is one of the reasons why it makes such a good introduction to more sophisticated titles as it is not difficult to get started or maintain interest. The plot is intelligent and not complicated, although Wilde never explicitly states the true explanation, and feels modern and fresh. The painting itself is beautifully portrayed in Wilde’s writing style, which I just can’t get enough of.

This novel deals with the themes of beauty, youth and sin. All issues which I would argue are extremely relevant in today’s media-obsessed society.

I’m pretty sure he suffered a lot and you can see it in some of the discourse in the books: Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.

In the censored version when Lord Henry asks Basil how often he sees Dorian,
the part of Basil’s answer that was erased explained the agony of being apart from his young friend. This change results in the sentence ending differently. “Every day. I could not be happy if I didn’t see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me”

I just wish I could go and give him a hug.

Towards the end of the book, Dorian asks Basil why he refused to exhibit the painting. Basil’s answer to this question in the uncensored version is filled with romantic feelings for Dorian. Basil continues by saying: “It is quite true that I have worshiped you with far more romance of feeling than a man should ever give to a friend. Somehow, I had never loved a woman. There was love in every line, and in every touch there was passion. I grew afraid that the world would know of my idolatry. I felt, Dorian, that I had told too much”

This novel is a perfect example of the classic Victorian gothic. It is engaging, beautifully written, and best of all easy to read. I would completely recommend this to anyone, especially during winter so you can curl up with a tea and get sucked into the drama.