The Picture of Dorian Gray

How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young... If it were only the other way!
Afraid that his youth and looks will waste away, handsome Dorian Gray expresses a wish that his portrait, and not he, will age and fade over time. His wish is granted, and over the ensuing years, Dorian indulges in every kind of vice and pleasure, never ageing nor disfiguring. Only his portrait, hidden to the world, bears the marks of his actions, and as his soul grows ever more wasted and corrupted, devastating consequences lie in wait.
First published in its complete, uncensored form in 1891, The Picture of Dorian Gray scandalised Victorian readers with its debauchery, but remains an astute observation of the complex relationship between art, beauty and human nature.