The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Approximate level: B1
Length: 80,368 words
Reading time: 6 h 42 min
Chapters: 21
Language: English
On Project Gutenberg since: 1994

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Oscar Wilde’s 1890s novel begins with a series of witty, provocative statements about art, beauty, and morality before turning to a young man, his portrait, and the social world of Victorian London. The book combines Gothic and supernatural elements with discussions of appearance, influence, and conduct. Its vocabulary is often formal and literary, with references to art and philosophy. The opening uses many short, polished claims, while later passages include more involved dialogue and description.

38,258 downloads on Project Gutenberg

Subjects

Didactic fiction
Supernatural -- Fiction
Conduct of life -- Fiction
Portraits -- Fiction
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901 -- Fiction
London (England) -- History -- 1800-1950 -- Fiction
Appearance (Philosophy) -- Fiction
Paranormal fiction

Questions about this book

What level of English do I need for this book?

The estimate is B1, based on how common the words are and how long the sentences run. It is an approximation, not a test result. With a translation under every sentence you can start one level earlier than you would with a paper copy.

Is this book really free?

Yes. The text is in the public domain and comes from Project Gutenberg, so it costs nothing. In Lingo7 you open the book and read the first page for free; a subscription unlocks the whole library, the audio and the word practice.

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How long does it take to read?

About 6 h 42 min at a native pace, spread over 21 chapters. In a foreign language plan for more: half an hour a day finishes a book of this size in a few weeks.