The Picture of Dorian Gray
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A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."
As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Amazon.co.uk Review
A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."
As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
122 of 127 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the modern classics of Western literature,
By
This review is from: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Dorian Gray at the age of eighteen seems blessed beyond all other young men, possessing wealth and beauty. While having his portrait painted by the artist Basil Hallward, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a cynic and thinker who convinces Dorian that his youth and beauty are his most important possessions. Falling under Lord Henry's spell, Dorian wishes a fateful wish, that he would hold onto his youth and beauty, while his portrait would feel the effects of time and life.And with his wish granted, Dorian Gray sets out to test all of the virtues and vices that life has to offer, free from the fear that his experiences will leave a mark upon his face. But, to his horror and dismay, Dorian begins to realize that while the mirror reflects the state of his face, the picture reflects the state of his soul. This book is considered one of the modern classics of Western literature, and it is easy to see why. The book shows off Oscar Wilde's (1854-1900) writing talents to great effect, with the book seeming more like poetry at times. But, the story itself is quite fascinating. "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" asks Lord Henry, quoting Jesus Christ. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating read. Oscar Wilde was a great thinker, and in many ways this book shows him at his best and at his worst. Which character represents Mr. Wilde, Lord Henry, Basil Hallward, Dorian Gray, or all three? I would say all three. This is a great book, one that everyone should read, a book about living and what you do and what you are underneath. I give this book my highest recommendations!
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Kindle.......Undiscovered by me until now!,
By
This review is from: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Kindle Edition)
I always felt until now that works by Oscar Wilde would be overly flowery and "superficial" and only got this book because it was free on Kindle.I could not have been more wrong.............Like the earlier reviewer suggested I had a very vague notion of Dorian Gray and the ideals he stood for but reading the novel it seems incredibly relevant to todays image obsessed society and the linked declines in morality. The book itself is dark in places but still infused with humour and insights into human society and is a delight to read. On the strength of this experience I have ordered several other "Classics" by authors I otherwise would not have touched. Highly recommended.
147 of 155 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"To define is to limit.",
By
This review is from: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Penguin Popular Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
Let me start by asserting that I'm pretty much an ordinary guy - I'm 17 and come from a UK comprehensive school. I've only recently tried dipping into the classics half-seriously and have little experience with the likes of Oscar Wilde. Sure I'm aware of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and some of his witty one-liners, but until I bought 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' I had no serious interest in this man.Classics are often interpreted by the public as fairly difficult to access; they are often hefty, dense and reserved for the University intelligentsia to comprehend. But this book is very different. It contains the important and interesting psychological themes of hubris (pride and insolence) and also features the classic 'Faustian Pact' scenario: where an individual is willing to sell her or his own soul in return for something. I suppose the MAIN appeal of this book is its narrative. Oscar Wilde writes - well - he writes 'wonderfully'. His prose is absolutely fascinating to read, and its rhythms guide you at a gentle pace through the book. Another key factor regarding the narrative is that it is generally interesting. There are so many classic books out there which can be difficult to access for the more impatient of us, but this one really is easily accessible for almost anyone. Did I mention that it contains some really brilliant one-liners? ...It's so cheap you'd be crazy not to give it a go. It tackles themes through 'interesting' (I mean, genuinely interesting) metaphors, the characters are fascinating, the narrative is funny, acerbic, satirical and enthralling. While the story - the story itself - it just a pleasure to read. It contains a little love, a little humour, lots of tension and is ultimately a tragedy. Man - I URGE you to buy it. You can bombard me with emails if your opinions are contrary to mine; and you genuinely think that buying it was a waste of money. I finish by saying, in my opinion this is 'probably' the best book I have ever read. And I have read a fair few (modern or otherwise) of the others that the critics keep throwing at us. But this one is a genuine treat. Wow - thinking over it, you really would have to be pretty insane to pass this one up. It's so darn cheap! Buy it. :)
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