A wonderful book. The pages of this book feel alive, the prose is remarkable and the ideas alluring and intriguing. The premise of the story is the downfall of man by tempting ideals and philosophy and the struggle between following your conscience and your desires. There are many ways you could analyse this book, it strikes me as a fable of the susceptibility of man to ideas which either confirm their own bias or simply allow yourself to live in a way that you desire to. Of course in another lens it is a cautionary tale about vanity and pride but I find that explanation underwhelming. It’s clear that the downfall of Dorian was not simply vanity: it was vanity and hedonism as a philosophy.
Every part of this book is wonderfully realised. Oscar Wilde writes like someone possessed by his work and living his story, which is largely true for certain parts. It reads like a painting, a truly masterful work of literature.

Update: Reread with the original manuscript and it’s even better.