The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
In Victorian London, the artist Basil Hallward paints a portrait of Dorian Gray, a beautiful and innocent young man. Basil's witty friend Lord Henry tells Dorian that youth and beauty are all that matter and will soon fade, and Dorian makes a reckless wish: that the painting could grow old instead of him.
- Length
- About 78,000 words
- To read it
- About 52 days
- Stage
- Key Stage 3, GCSE
Reading time at 1,500 words a day, the pace we start from until we know your child’s own.
Where it is taught
Why The Picture of Dorian Gray is on the list
- Year 9, Challenge. Demanding books for a strong reader who wants a real challenge.
- Year 11, Challenge. Demanding books for a strong reader who wants a real challenge.
Reading it here
What your child does with it
- 1
Choose it and set a finish date
You get a suggested target from the length of the book and your child's reading pace.
- 2
Check in along the way
A longer book has short check-ins every week or two, so it keeps moving and nothing is forgotten.
- 3
Answer two questions
When they finish: a review of the book, and a deeper question about how it works.
- 4
Get it marked, and redraft
Every answer is marked against the rubric for their year, with a reason for every score.