Vivian Grey the assumption that Vivian Grey is synonymous with the young Benjamin Disraeli. The British poet Mary Montgomerie Lamb took her pen name 'Violet Fane' from a character in this novel. Some commentaters have suggested that "Vivian Grey" influenced Oscar Wilde in the writing of his only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". Vivian Grey Vivian Grey is Benjamin Disraeli's first novel, published by Henry Colburn in 1826. Originally published anonymously, ostensibly by a so-called "man of fashion," part 1 caused a considerable sensation in London society. Contemporary reviewers, suspicious of the numerous solecisms contained within the text, eventually identified the
The Picture of Dorian Gray Magazine". British reviewers condemned the novel's immorality, and said condemnation was so controversial that the W H Smith publishing house withdrew every copy of the July 1890 issue of "Lippincott's Monthly Magazine" from its bookstalls in railway stations. Consequent to the harsh criticism of the 1890 magazine edition, Wilde ameliorated the homoerotic references, to simplify the moral message of the story. In the magazine edition (1890), Basil tells Lord Henry how he "worships" Dorian, and begs him not to "take away the one person that makes my life absolutely lovely to me." In the magazine edition, Basil concentrates upon love,