- The novel The Picture of Dorian Gray was written by Oscar Wilde and first published in 1890, though Wilde later revised and expanded the work. - The story follows Dorian Gray, a young man whose portrait ages but who remains youthful after making a Faustian bargain. - Dorian falls under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton and becomes cynical, vain, and selfish as his portrait takes on his sins and corruption. - The book caused controversy at the time for its themes but is now considered a Gothic horror classic of Western literature.