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Cover of The Picture of Dorian Gray

Fiction · Fantasy

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

A polished moral fable about beauty, influence and consequence.

7 hr estimatedA2–B1 Linden levelRead now availability21 chapters
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Overview

About this book

Dorian wishes that a portrait will bear the marks of age and action in his place. Wilde uses that bargain to test beauty, influence and the cost of treating life as art.

First published
1890
Language
English
Copyright status
Public domain

English level

A2–B1 · First originals

The Picture of Dorian Gray is calibrated from 41,158 sampled words across 21 chapters: sentences average 11.5 words, 7.7% exceed 24 words and 4.7% of words are nine letters or longer.

Explore the A2–B1 level →

Sentence rhythm

What the prose asks

Mostly compact sentences averaging 11.5 words in the sampled text

Vocabulary

What may slow you down

4.7% of sampled words contain nine or more letters and about 1.43 marked archaic terms per thousand words; names and period vocabulary still vary by chapter

Reading rhythm

Medium commitment

Regular chapter-sized stopping points support a steady plan. About 15 calm 30-minute sessions.

Suggested approach

Read with momentum

Follow the main action first and look up only words that block meaning

Best starting point

Begin with chapter one

The full text is ready with speech, lookup and saved progress.

CEFR-aligned Linden estimate · high confidence · sampled full text · Calibrated 2026-09-08 · Provisional, not an exam certification.

Table of contents

21 chapters

  1. 01THE PREFACE2 min
  2. 02CHAPTER I.22 min
  3. 03CHAPTER II.25 min
  4. 04CHAPTER III.20 min
  5. 05CHAPTER IV.25 min
  6. 06CHAPTER V.20 min
  7. 07CHAPTER VI.13 min
  8. 08CHAPTER VII.20 min
  9. 09CHAPTER VIII.24 min
  10. 10CHAPTER IX.18 min
  11. 11CHAPTER X.15 min
  12. 12CHAPTER XI.33 min
  13. 13CHAPTER XII.13 min
  14. 14CHAPTER XIII.11 min
  15. 15CHAPTER XIV.21 min
  16. 16CHAPTER XV.14 min
  17. 17CHAPTER XVI.14 min
  18. 18CHAPTER XVII.8 min
  19. 19CHAPTER XVIII.15 min
  20. 20CHAPTER XIX.16 min
  21. 21CHAPTER XX.9 min

Related reading paths

Read it in sequence

Gothic FictionReaders who enjoy atmosphere but also want strong ideas.
Portrait of Oscar Wilde

Related author

Oscar Wilde

An Irish writer known for exact comic dialogue, aesthetic argument and stories that expose the cost of performance.

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