THIS WRETCHED BEAUTY

In this reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray, a young transgender noble caged by societal expectations makes a wish that has haunting consequences.

Smothered by the oppressive shadow of her grandfather, 16-year-old Dorian longs for friendship and freedom from the demanding perceptions of others that shape her fragile sense of self. Sheltered from London society, which “has fallen from grace,” Dorian sees glimpses of the outside world only when she sneaks out her window at night. That changes when she meets Basil, a young artist who offers to paint her portrait, and Basil’s friend Henry, a hedonistic and provocative nobleman. Captivated by—and also envious, ashamed, and resentful of—the beauty and ethereal gender ambiguity of the figure in Basil’s portrait, Dorian offers her soul for a reversal of fate, causing the portrait to age so that she can embody its eternal perfection. Dorian doesn’t realize the impact of her wish until her life begins to spiral, and the figure transforms, reflecting every desperate choice Dorian makes in pursuit of freedom as well as her misguided attempts to protect the people she loves. Grenier’s prose aches with immersive melancholy. As a remix, the story acts in conversation with the history of the original work and uses its scaffolding to explore relevant themes of identity, abuse, and trauma. Despite the brooding tone and the heaviness of Dorian’s circumstances, the resolution is meaningfully empathetic. The characters primarily present white.

Artfully atmospheric, sensitive, and nuanced.