# The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

10 Hacker News commenters recommended The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its witty, cynical dialogue and lasting influence, and for a strong Sarah Snook stage production. Caveat: wordy prose and an obnoxious character.

## Why people recommend it

- Sharp, witty dialogue (2 comments): "a well-written book full of fantastically clever dialogue and over-the-top cynicism" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46016905)) "The dialogue was amazing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46016931))
- Influential and still relevant (2 comments): "It is certainly one which has influenced me deeply and continues to do so" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017241)) "It is a good read, even now." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017181))
- Sarah Snook production praised (2 comments): "A bit flawed, but a technical marvel and shows how superhumanly virtuosic Snook is." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018867)) "The production of this with Sarah Snook from Succession was absolutely amazing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46017338))

## What people warn about

- Wordy prose (1 comments): "Hes a wordy motherfuck that Wilde bloke." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018567))
- Obnoxious character dominates dialogue (1 comments): "uttered by a single, incredibly obnoxious character" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46396841))
- Stage production a bit flawed (1 comments): "A bit flawed, but a technical marvel and shows how superhumanly virtuosic Snook is." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018867))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/crime-and-punishment.md): 39 recommend
- [The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/brothers-karamazov.md): 28 recommend
- [Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinite-jest.md): 26 recommend
- [The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://hackerapproved.com/p/great-gatsby.md): 24 recommend
- [Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand](https://hackerapproved.com/p/atlas-shrugged.md): 23 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400344166?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9781400344161) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde", https://hackerapproved.com/p/picture-of-dorian-gray/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).