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The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Dec 2, 2025 6:31 PM

Author:Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray

With an essay by Peter Ackroyd.

'I am jealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous of the portrait you have painted of me ... Why did you paint it? It will mock me some day - mock me horribly!'

A story of evil, debauchery and scandal, Oscar Wilde's only novel tells of Dorian Gray, a beautiful yet corrupt man. When he wishes that a perfect portrait of himself would bear the signs of ageing in his place, the picture becomes his hideous secret, as it follows Dorian's own downward spiral into cruelty and depravity. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a masterpiece of the evil in men's hearts, and is as controversial and alluring as Wilde himself.

The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

Reviews

He's a fledgling Nabokov for the era of Big Brother

—— Independent

Bullet Points is unnervingly accomplished. Expect to hear plenty more about him

—— Observer

This is an extremely well plotted novel with a surprisingly twist in the tale and augurs great things for the future

—— The Times

Fresh and imaginative... with wonderful flashes of humour. This is a clever and unusual book, and Watson is to be commended

—— Independent

Bullet Points is a fluent performance, an extremely competent first novel

—— Times Literary Supplement

Many readers will be amazed that Watson has written such an accomplished debut straight out of university, but his age is irrelevant; this is simply a great novel, full stop

—— Matt Thorne

A gripping, knowing and desperately sad mock memoir-provincial life hasn't been this well chronicled since Jonathan Coe. Bullet Points stays, appropriately, in the mind for some time

—— Ink

Stands with the best of contemporary historical fiction...you can practically taste the rotgut and feel the sawdust under your boots. Missy is a spectacular debut: the West has never been this wild.

—— http://maxdunbar.wordpress.com

Treating ourselves to sex, drugs and murder as we hang the do-not-disturb sign on the door and settle down on the comfiest sofa with playwright Chris Hanna's debut 'Missy' (due out in pb from Vintage). Who knew the Wild West could be so much fun?

—— This Week We’re… , Herald Magazine

Taut and credible [dialogue]...I have sat on the judging panels of two novel prizes, and I have to say that this book is far better written than many of the efforts I had to wade through. I would like to congratulate the author on a fine piece of work, and look forward to reading his next offering.

—— Guy Fraser-Sampson , www.pursewarden.blogspot.com

Sex, drugs and barroom brawls - only an ungrateful reader could want more.' Or 'Missy is a ripsnorting, bawdy success with a wonderfully sympathetic heroine who is a winning mix of worldliness and self-delusion.

—— Colin Waters , The Sunday Herald

Narrated by a classic and irrepressible anti-heroine, Missy is an enjoyable romp through the real Old West...a very impressive debut novel

—— Simon Appleby , www.bookgeeks.co.uk

Dol is never less than convincing as a character, and has deservedly drawn comparisons with literary predecessors such as Thackeray's Becky Sharp and Defoe's Moll Flanders. Hannan's great skill is to make her both difficult and likeable, and the reader will devour this book in a matter of hours simply to find out what befalls her

—— www.suite101.com

Strong and memorable female characters throughout this enjoyable novel

—— http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/scottpack/

Described as 'Deadwood meets Moll Flanders', Hannan's story is told by the vivacious, smart, streetwise Dol McQueen'.Another wonderful debut novel...I can't recommend this book highly enough, or Hannan's earthy, vital creation

—— Lesley McDowell , The Herald

Bodice-ripping romp through the West

—— Times

Missy by Strong and memorable female characters throughout this enjoyable novel

—— http://meandmybigmouth.typepad.com/scottpack
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