Don’t get me wrong, it was a SOLID read. But it’s the old timey-ness that doesn’t resonate with me. I loved the little plot twists but I just don’t enjoy that old timey writing where I can’t understand how people in that time period talked. I think I enjoyed the happy prince short story WAY more than

Happy Prince short story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review by Jason Lush

One hundred and ninety pages of political masturbation disguised as a supernatural suspense story. Of the three main characters we have; Dorian Gray, who is a brainless puppet the personifies vanity; Basil Hallward, the artist who painted the fabled portrait and represents the sorrowful conscience; and Lord Henry Wolton, who is the quintessential 19th Century fop whose sole purpose in the book is to act as Wilde's voice on politics, religion and homosexuality and as a driving corrupter of everyone else in the book.

The pacing is horrendously slow, the chapters devoted to explaining Gray's hobbies and the pictures of his ancestors in his hallway don't help with the lousy pacing. The whole story could have been condensed to a 30 page novella and would have been enjoyable.

And, as a side note to the posthumous Mr. Wilde, forty is not old and hideous.

idk why this is listed separately from the copy i read the first time, maybe it’s the extra stories in the back, but i’ll take the chance to give this book 5 stars a second time. everyone say thank you oscar wilde

3.5

A very insightful look at Victorian Age literature, and the boundaries of decadence that Wilde toyed with in his infamous novel. You also get four short stories at the end in addition to the main novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray." I was always intrigued by why Wilde named his main character "DORIAN GRAY." Dorian = Dorado = Gold, and Gray = Gray. His very name is the contrast between Gold/Light and Gray/Decay. The eternal balance between an amoral life and a life of virtue.

You will find Wilde intrigued with beauty and outer looks as you find this theme in not only the main novel, but in "The Happy Prince," and "The Birthday of the Infanta." I also enjoy Wilde writing that is peppered with many French phrases, and hyperbole.

Loved "Dorian Gray". Enjoyed "The Happy Prince". I was indifferent to "Infanta" and didn't read "Savile", so I can't speak to those.

My favorite classic novel to date. I've lost track of how many times I've re-read this story!
All the stars!

now this is a classic i can get behind!

Lovely lovely book! Really enjoyed diving into the question of how one should lead their life and also of some interesting criticisms of Victorian morality. So beautifully written, so many lines to look back on and reflect. Chef’s kiss!

This is my first time reading a Lit Classic that wasn't mandatory for school work. It was beautifully written and had such detail. I don't know why it took me so long to read it, but I am glad I finished it. We might be able to hid our flaws from others, but they will always be present and visible to ourselves.

After seeing a performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and really enjoying it, I was eager to read more of his work.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a morality tale that takes place in London in the nineteenth century and contains social, cultural, and political satire on late-Victorian England. Wilde incorporates elements of many fictional traditions/genres in his novel, including Gothic Horror, Devil’s Bargain, Fall From Grace, etc. This is a novel about vanity, beauty, and the corrupting influence of one’s actions and is Wilde’s only full length prose fiction. I found it very accessible to read compared to other classics like those written by Shakespeare or Milton. The dialogue between characters is rich and witty, and the novel is teaming with epigrams (satirical statements that highlight truths).

It was interesting to learn about the controversy surrounding this book when it was published. When Wilde says that, “There is no such thing as a moral or immoral books. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all,” his words put into perspective the absurdity of the book bans we are experiencing today.

Takeaways -
- The lack or specificity of Dorian’s sins is intentional. It makes the fable even more haunting and affirms Wilde’s statement that, “Each man sees his own sin in Dorian Gray” (292).
- Dorian is both the devil’s bargain and Prince Charming
- The three main characters, Basil, Lord Henry, and Dorian Gray appear to represent facets of Wilde
- The novel explores the relationship between the artist and the art, the painter and the picture - Basil will not exhibit his portrait of Dorian out of fear that it will express too much about himself and reveal, “the secret of his soul.”
- Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital
- Beer, the Bible, and the seven deadly virtues have made England what she is (193).

Included in this edition are three other short stories from Wilde. I enjoyed The Happy Prince (4 stars) the most, then Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime (3 stars). The Birthday of the Infanta (2 stars) made me sad. Although, that seems to be the point of the story. It is a critique on shallowness, materialism, and superficiality.

honestly one of the greatest masterpieces ive read