The Picture of Dorian Gray

As Osborne writes in his introduction, Wilde's masterpiece conveys a feeling of 'wilful courage and despair', qualities which echo the spirit of Wilde himself. This story of a man who preserves his youth and is feted by society, while his portrait deteriorates with age, is also superb entertainment. Osborne's brilliant and concise dramatisation highlights the relevance of this tale in the modern world, where, as Osborne says, 'It is obligatory to be slim, trim, careless.'