Basil Hallward, an artist, meets Dorian Gray and paints his portrait. The artist is so infatuated with Dorian’s beauty that he begins to believe it is the reason for his quality of art. Dorian becomes convinced that beauty is all-important and wishes his portrait could age instead of him. But each time Dorian commits a sin, his portrait ages, eventually showing him what is happening to his soul.
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"First read this book in 1982, loved it and it's characters has stayed with me every since then. I can't get the image of Dorians picture aging away, as he stayed so long. I personally found Dorian to be an ass, narcissism is an under statement and his treatment of the girl is far worse depending on what edition you read."
— Joseph (4 out of 5 stars)
“[An] enduringly popular work. It is still widely read.”
— The Guardian (London)“A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception.”
— Amazon.com“The Picture of Dorian Gray categorically changed Victorian Britain and the landscape of literature.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“This remarkable rendering perfectly captures the spirit and characters…Just as the portrait mirrors the ravages of Gray’s soul, Petherbridge’s narration exudes decadence, hedonism, and destruction—every syllable foreshadowing the protagonist’s dismal end. The narrator’s storytelling and narrative skill are exemplary.”
— AudioFile" A very good read. Thought provoking, beautifully written, I found it hard to put it down. "
— Sarah, 2/6/2014" Those who enjoy a "dark" novel looking at the vain, egotistical side of the human character "
— Anastasia, 2/5/2014" I find this to easily be one of my favorite novels of all time. If you're a fan to terse prose, read Hemingway. Wilde is easily one of the greatest writers of all time, with the mind of a scholar and the style of a poet. A must-read for anyone who's looking to view an expert portrayal of decadence and hedonism. "
— Michael, 1/25/2014" Interestingly written by Wilde in a very hooking style of writing. However, in fact, Wilde's statement that the three of the main characters---Dorian Gray, Basil Halward and King Henry---are solely his alter ego(s) are not that surprising to me. I wish there were be any other novel of his. "
— Dila, 1/23/2014" Amazing story, which is wonderfully written and with a lot of detail (without getting boring). I'd really recommend it to people who are looking for a rather short story (it really isn't that long) with some nice bits of humor in it as well. It's a shame he didn't write more books. "
— Marescha, 1/18/2014" The book did nothing for me, I was very board and didn't even end up finishing! Very dissapointed! "
— Kerrie, 1/16/2014" Another old classic worth the read. "
— Ellie, 1/16/2014" All the sins and misdeeds you've conducted can't be hidden in darkness forever. One day they will come to you and cause calamitities and misfortunes you doomed to and well deserved, precipately and devastatingly. "
— Aldous, 1/13/2014" Okay, so I technically listened to this book as an audiobook.... But it was still a great piece of writing. Some elements reminded me of Poe, others of Shakespeare. A great overall story "
— Chris, 1/9/2014" A classic, read it long time ago but would read it again if I had more than one life and so many other fabulous books to read! Very clever, witty, a must read! "
— Elena, 1/4/2014" Loved it! An exciting classic! "
— Dara, 12/16/2013Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was born in Dublin. He won scholarships to both Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1875, he began publishing poetry in literary magazines, and in 1878, he won the coveted Newdigate Prize for English poetry. He had a reputation as a flamboyant wit and man-about-town. After his marriage to Constance Lloyd in 1884, he tried to establish himself as a writer, but with little initial success. However, his three volumes of short fiction, The Happy Prince, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and A House of Pomegranates, together with his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, gradually won him a reputation as a modern writer with an original talent. That reputation was confirmed and enhanced by the phenomenal success of his society comedies: Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest, all performed on London’s West End stage between 1892 and 1895. In 1895, he was convicted of engaging in homosexual acts, which were then illegal, and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor. He soon declared bankruptcy, and his property was auctioned off. In 1896, he lost legal custody of his children. When his mother died that same year, his wife Constance visited him at the jail to bring him the news. It was the last time they saw each other. In the years after his release, his health deteriorated. In November 1900, he died in Paris at the age of forty-six.
Edward Petherbridge’s theater experience is extensive. He originated the role of Guildenstern in the original production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and he has been nominated for two Tony Awards, one for Nicholas Nickleby and the other for Strange Interlude. For the latter he also received an Olivier Award. His television and film credits include Gulliver’s Travels, An Awfully Big Adventure, No Strings, and Lord Peter Wimsey.