The Picture of Dorian Gray (Modernized Edition) by Oscar Wilde is a haunting exploration of beauty, vanity, morality, and the cost of unchecked desire—presented here in a refined modernized edition designed for today’s readers. First published in 1891, Wilde’s only novel shocked Victorian society with its daring aesthetic philosophy and psychological depth, and it continues to resonate as a timeless study of identity, corruption, and self-deception.

This edition is based on the complete 1891 text and has been carefully restored and stylistically formatted to improve readability while preserving Wilde’s wit, lyricism, and philosophical nuance. Archaic typographic conventions have been removed, layout and pacing refined, and the text presented in clear, contemporary formatting—making the novel more accessible without altering its language, themes, or intent.

At the heart of the novel is Dorian Gray, a young man whose portrait bears the marks of his moral decay while he himself remains outwardly untouched by time or consequence. Through this chilling conceit, Wilde interrogates the dangers of aesthetic obsession, the tension between appearance and reality, and the seductive power of influence. The result is a story that feels strikingly modern in its concerns with image, performative identity, and ethical detachment.

Ideal for readers of classic literature, gothic fiction, and psychological novels, The Picture of Dorian Gray (Modernized Edition) offers a beautifully presented gateway into Wilde’s most enduring work—one that remains as provocative, unsettling, and relevant today as it was at the close of the nineteenth century.