The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 1, narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads https://www.patreon.com/theessentialreads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join SUMMARY: Basil Hallward, a renowned artist discusses his latest masterpiece with his good friend Lord Henry Wotton. Henry admires the painting, which is of a gorgeous, blond haired young man. Henry tells his friend that he needs to exhibit the piece but Basil refuses, saying that he has put too much of himself into it. Henry laughs, saying that the man in the portrait looks nothing like him and asks for a more reasonable answer. Basil then goes on to explain how he met the subject of the portrait at a party hosted by Lord Henry's aunt Agatha. He goes to say that from the first moment that he looked at Dorian, he knew that their lives would intertwine. Dorian has become a necessity in Basil's life, and he states that he wouldn't be happy if he didn't see the boy every day, and claims that whenever he is with Dorian, his art is improved. Lord Henry, is astonished by this story, and suddenly remembers that he had heard the name uttered before by his aunt and laughingly adds that she never mentioned that Dorian was gorgeous. At that moment, the Butler comes to the garden to announce Dorian's arrival at Basil's home. Henry insists on meeting the lad, and Basil begrudgingly accepts, saying that Henry must not influence the boy, as he feels that Dorian could be easily ruined by Lord Henry's cynicism.