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The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Oscar Wilde
Wilde's only novel, first published in 1890, is a brilliantly designed puzzle, intended to tease conventional minds with its exploration of the myriad interrelationships between art, life and consequence. From its provocative Preface, challenging the reader to belief in 'art for art's sake', to its sensational conclusion, the story self-consciously experiments with the notion of sin as an element of design. Yet Wilde himself underestimated the consequences of his experiment, and its capacity to outrage the Victorian establishment. Its words returned to haunt him in his court appearances in 1895, and he later recalled the 'note of doom' which runs like 'a purple thread' through its carefully crafted prose.
Wilde's only novel, first published in 1890, is a brilliantly designed puzzle, intended to tease conventional minds with its exploration of the myriad interrelationships between art, life and consequence. From its provocative Preface, challenging the reader to belief in 'art for art's sake', to its sensational conclusion, the story self-consciously experiments with the notion of sin as an element of design. Yet Wilde himself underestimated the consequences of his experiment, and its capacity to outrage the Victorian establishment. Its words returned to haunt him in his court appearances in 1895, and he later recalled the 'note of doom' which runs like 'a purple thread' through its carefully crafted prose.
Reviews-
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Oscar Wilde's witty prose, so often shaped into lovely aphorisms, cries out to be read aloud. As a result, this fine adaptation has a lot to work with, and the members of the cast deliver it well, bringing out both the glittering surface and underlying emotional resonance of this macabre tale of forbidden passion and hidden sin. As fits the prose, the actors often seem to be declaiming, and each line can stand alone. This makes the work all the more apt for audio production. The only weakness is an excess of sound effects. They aren't bad, but they aren't needed. Wilde's wit is enough in itself. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
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The famous story of the magic portrait that ages while its knavish subject stays young. With its witty dialogue and extravagant theatricality, Wilde's classic moral horror story reads beautifully aloud. If you've enjoyed the delightfully cynical cad, Lord Henry, impersonated by such actors as George Sanders, the youthful Sheen may disappoint you. He hasn't quite the technique to toss off the bons mots but makes up for it in passion and strong characterizations. His major achievement is his unique treatment of the narrative partly as melodrama and partly as fairy tale, a tone that matches, if not what the author aspired towards, what the author actually accomplished. The bridges of Bo‘llmann, Chabrier and Schumann piano music are perfectly apt. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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This remarkable rendering perfectly captures the spirit and characters of the chilling melodrama that scandalized polite society when first published in 1890. Enthralled with his own physical beauty, Dorian Gray wishes his portrait to grow old while he himself stays young, and Wilde makes it so. 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. R.B.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Case reads impeccably. He drawls with languid ennui, perfectly capturing the effete attitudes of Wilde. Aphorism after aphorism accompanies this biting satire of the Victorian age, a story of degradation through the worship of beauty. Dorian's casual prayer for lasting youthfulness gets grotesquely answered. He himself maintains all outward charms. Instead, his portrait becomes a mirror of moral descent. In Case's voice, we hear the true decadence of Dorian and his friends, observing life with lazy indifference to anything but their own pleasure. The reading suffers some odd tempi, particularly in considerable pauses between dialogue and attributions. Though jarring, this is a minor glitch in a fine performance. S.B.S. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine
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The portrait in the title ages, revealing the hardness and cruelty of a dissolute life, while its subject remains forever young and handsome. This is the premise of Oscar Wilde's only novel, a cautionary tale enlivened by vivid characterizations and mordant wit. Rupert Graves brilliantly makes the most of the former, but not the latter. Instead, he throws all his efforts into the darker atmospheres, suspense and drama. The repartee of Lord Henry, Dorian's rakish mentor, chills rather than scintillates, as Graves pointedly brings home its immorality. The consequence of this approach is a less urbane, less subtle fictive world than Wilde's interpreters usually give us. Hence, this version is particularly suitable to young listeners, who would probably not find Lord Henry particularly amusing anyway. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, Wilde's only novel, is a variation on the Faust story, in which the title character gives up his soul in exchange for enduring youth. It's a marvelous work, and this abridgment is graceful and generous--perhaps no more than a tenth has been excised. Even the digressions on aesthetics are largely unplundered. Put this kind of raw material into the hands of Stephen Fry, and the result is a sumptuous listening experience. Fry just seems so comfortable with Wilde's writing--his characterizations are subtle, precise, consistent. And it's hard to imagine ever getting tired of his voice. D.B. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
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One of the most famous of the original nineteenth-century gothic horror novels, this story follows glamorous and youthful Dorian Gray, who becomes corrupted by the fear of his own mortality. Soon, he discovers that while his portrait may age, he will not, a knowledge that leads to his ultimate downfall. Simon Vance's portrayal of each character is spot-on. His Lord Henry is casual, dismissive, and haughty. His Basil Hallward, the artist infatuated with Dorian, comes across as timid and pitiful but always endearing. Best of all, Vance's Dorian Gray exudes youth and impetuousness at the beginning, but quickly darkens once the character's madness takes hold. While at times seeming the slightest bit rushed, Vance nonetheless finds the essence of each character, making Wilde's work a delightfully creepy listen. A.A. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
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THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde endures with its gems of astute observation and cynical wit. The eerie story follows a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty in the form of a supernatural portrait. Life's mysterious paradoxes are laced throughout Lord Henry's brilliant aphorisms. Gray is urged by Henry to "love the wonderful life that is in you." The novel's classic qualities are mired in decadence, "art for art's sake," the new hedonism of the Victorian-era upper class, and societal moral corruption. Simon Prebble perfectly achieves Lord Henry's "low, languid voice" and sparkling conversation, while avidly expressing the other characters' more torrid emotions. Prebble brings the fable's gothic horror to life, but the more youthful characters lack believable intonation. A.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
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L.A. Theatre Works' new production brings the drama from Oscar Wilde's famous novel onto the stage. After sitting for a portrait, Dorian Gray, a young man of extraordinary beauty, becomes hopelessly self-absorbed. His vanity leads him to a life of hedonism and to his ultimate demise. Based on the theatrical adaptation by Paul Edwards, this interpretation unleashes all the dramatic tension of the story without ignoring the necessary plot points. Steve Juergens gives a convincing performance as the haughty Gray. He speaks with clear emotion and masterfully conveys all the cruelty and conceit of the infamous protagonist. The supporting cast bolsters the production with a range of narrative and character roles. This audiobook transports the reader into the front row of the theater. D.M.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
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Dorian Gray is one of Wilde's most iconic characters, referenced consistently in any number of contemporary art forms. Loyal to this tradition, Greg Wise offers a timeless narration of this audiobook. His classic British voice--elegant and erudite--moves languidly between formally proper and ironic. Wise is the quintessential narrator of this type of novel; his laconic style and resonant voice work well with the text. At times, whether due to Wilde's nuanced prose or the moments when Wise's consistent tone becomes too hypnotic, the effect can be too smooth, too subtle, offering an almost monotonous result. However, those interested in immersing themselves in an oft-alluded-to text will find those moments inconsequential and the recording well worth hearing. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
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Listeners will be enchanted by James Warwick's narration of Oscar Wilde's famous and controversial novel. The story involves a man named Dorian Gray who has been corrupted by his youth and physical beauty. Several productions of this classic have already been produced, but Warwick's performance is simply arresting. He narrates in a strong voice with an elegant cadence and vocal color that befits each character and the overall tone of the work. Any hint of monotony in the middle can be attributed to slow moments in Wilde's writing. Overall, Warwick's performance is smooth and melodic. The audiobook also comes with an interview with Warwick in which he recounts his own life as a gay man in 1960s London. A.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
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Starred review from April 4, 2011
First published in 1890 in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine and the following year in novel form, The Picture of Dorian Gray categorically changed Victorian Britain and the landscape of literature. An ostentatious, self-confessed aesthete, known for his wit and intellect, Wilde not only had to endure his prose being labeled "poisonous" and "vulgar," but also suffer its use as evidence in the ensuing trial, resulting in his eventual imprisonment for crimes of "gross indecency." Frankel's introduction provides a deft preliminary analysis of the novel itselfâexploring etymology and extensive editorial alterations (both accidental and deliberate)âand offers valuable insight into the socio-cultural juxtaposition of aristocratic Victorian society and the London underworld. The original typescript provides the unique opportunity to examine what was considered acceptable in both the US and UK at the time. Intriguing annotations allude to Wilde's influences and enterprising range of reference, incorporating art, poetry, literature, Greek mythology, philosophy, and fashion (certain to inspire further reading; an appendix is provided). Comparisons are drawn between Dorian Gray and Wilde's other literary output, as well as to the work of Walter Pater. Numerous illustrations subtly compliment Frankelâs inferences. A fine contextualization of a major work of fiction profoundly interpreted, ultimately riveting.
