The Picture of Dorian Gray was written by lrish author Osear Wilde (1854-1900).The novel was first published in 1890 in the July issue of Lippincotts Monthly Magazíne, and later in a longer and revised book form in 1891. Basil Hallward is an artist looking for inspiration when he meets Dorian Gray,and impressed by his beauty he decides to make me young man the subject of a full portrait.A friendship rapidly blossoms and through Basil,Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton,an hedonistic aristoerat living only for sensual fulfillment.Young Dorian is swayed by mis philosophy and begins to live the life of a libertine in the eonstant seareh for pleasure. The Picture of Dorian Gray eaused outrage in British reviewers and readers alike for its alleged immorality and indeeeney,and sparked in Osear Wilde a furious defenee of the ereative proeess and the importanee of freedom in artistic expression. Nevertheless,me book suffered so me eensorship in its first release,bur later was revised and expanded by the author ro fix this issue.
