Picture of Dorian Grey

It's a good read. Dorian's selfishness and unconcern for others advances steadily to what we would call sociopathic evil. Meanwhile he remains outwardly young and unaffected by time or events. His portrait however becomes the image of his soul as you will see. The point is exaggerated for literary effect and a bit clouded with Edwardian manners, but perhaps many of us have encountered such characters in our lives.

If you like the novel, you might try one of Wilde's plays. Start with "The Importance of Being Earnest" - an excellent comedy and satire..

I had a good time with that book. Good, not great by any means, but simple and straightforward for the most part. Good read.

But, sorry to say, I haven't read anything else of Wilde's, though I've been looking into it.

Does your copy of Dorian Grey have "The Happy Prince" at the end of it? Some editions include it; it is only a few pages long. If you don't have it, you can Google it. So very different from Dorian.

If you ever get the chance, see the movie of The Picture of Dorian Grey with Angela Lansbury in it - it is very true to the book and very well cast.

Importance of Being Earnest is very witty, bright and seemingly superficial, yet it is a wonderful essay on the society of the times.

"The Ballad of Reading Gaol." It's cool just for the way they spell jail. Wilde spent some time in prison, and they hanged a man while he was there.

"He didn't wear his scarlet cloak
for wine and blood are red,
and wine and blood were on his hands
when they found him with the dead,
the poor dead woman whom he loved
and murdered in her bed.

Yet each man kills the thing he loves,
by each let this be heard.
Some do it with a bitter look,
some with a flattering word.
The brave man does it with a sword,
the coward with a kiss."

I never have understood this, but it's good writing nevertheless.

Im about 15 minutes away from Reading Gaol.

Would this be in London? If so is Newgate Prison still there? This is another famous-or infamous- British prison, what with Defoe's "Moll Flanders" and Dickens.

No, Im about an hour away by train from London.

Spoiler


Oh my God, Dorians just stabbed Basil!!!

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is indeed enthralling but I am afraid that it is read mainly for its grotesque ending. I enjoyed WIlde's "The Critic As Artist" much more. I think it reveals the real Wilde and is filled with some of the most interesting aphorisms Wilde wrote.

Theres a grotesque ending!!I cant wait.Bought it in to work today so I can read it if its not busy.