The artist is the creator of beautiful things.

To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim.The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.

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In this celebrated work, his only novel, 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 day by day grows 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.