Портрет Доріана Грея

           Itwasanovelwithoutaplot,andwithonlyonecharacter,being,indeed,simplyapsychologicalstudy ofacertainyoungParisian,whospenthislifetryingtorealiseinthenineteenthcenturyallthepassionsandmodesofthought thatbelongedtoeverycenturyexcepthisown,andtosumup,asitwere,inhimselfthevariousmoodsthroughwhichtheworld-spirithadeverpassed, lovingfortheirmereartificialitythoserenunciationsthatmenhaveunwiselycalledvirtue,asmuchasthosenaturalrebellionsthatwisemenstillcallsin. Thestyleinwhichitwaswrittenwasthatcuriousjewelledstyle,vividandobscureatonce,fullofargotandofarchaisms,oftechnicalexpressionsandofelaborateparaphrases, thatcharacterisestheworkofsomeofthefinestartistsoftheFrenchschoolofSymbolistes. Therewereinitmetaphorsasmonstrousasorchids,andassubtleincolour. Thelifeofthesenseswasdescribedinthetermsofmysticalphilosophy. Onehardlyknewattimeswhetheronewasreadingthespiritualecstasiesofsomemediævalsaintorthemorbidconfessionsofamodernsinner. Itwasapoisonousbook. Theheavyodourofincenseseemedtoclingaboutitspagesandtotroublethebrain. Themerecadenceofthesentences,thesubtlemonotonyoftheirmusic,sofullasitwasofcomplexrefrainsandmovementselaboratelyrepeated,producedinthemindofthelad, ashepassedfromchaptertochapter,aformofreverie,amaladyofdreaming,thatmadehimunconsciousofthefallingdayandcreepingshadows. 

           Cloudless,andpiercedbyonesolitarystar,acopper-greenskygleamedthroughthewindows. Hereadonbyitswanlighttillhecouldreadnomore. Then,afterhisvalethadremindedhimseveraltimesofthelatenessofthehour,hegotup,and,goingintothenextroom, placedthebookonthelittleFlorentinetablethatalwaysstoodathisbedside,andbegantodressfordinner.