One of the most unorthodox novels of the modern era, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" tells the gripping story of the hedonist Dorian who, captivated by the exceptionally beautiful portrait painted of him by the artist Basil Hallward, sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth and everlasting beauty. Under the influence of his friend, Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian will indulge in a debauched lifestyle which he keeps hidden from high society, in whose eyes he remains a gentleman. The portrait, in contrast to his flawless appearance, bears the marks of his decay. The insinuations of the unspeakable sins the hero engages in caused a scandal when the book was first published in 1891 - the book was used as evidence in Oscar Wilde's trial in 1895. Of course, neither did the British critics of the time give a warm reception to this work, although the author's words, "Please leave my book, I beg you, to the immortality it deserves," proved to be rather prophetic. Today, although more than a hundred years have passed since it was first published, Oscar Wilde's Faustian story of moral decline continues to fascinate.