Books like Dorian by Will Self

Set against London's gritty backdrop of the 1980s and 1990s, Dorian sees the rise of a new urban myth. Will Self weaves a story of excess and devotion through the eyes of artists Henry Wotton and Baz Hallward, who become obsessed with the dazzling, ostensibly unblemished protagonist. As Baz films his living myth in the video piece *Cathode Narcissus* and Henry pursues a passionate affair, the tale unfolds amid the rising AIDS crisis that grips the gay community. Strikingly, Dorian continues to glow with vitality and purity, a paradox that frames the novel’s questions about identity, morality, and mortality. Self’s sharp prose captures the psychological turmoil of those on the margins, exploring how the threat of disease juxtaposes against unchecked desire and deep longing for authenticity in a rapidly changing society.

First publish date: 2002