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 believe 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 ...
Read More
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 believe 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.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wordsworth Collector's to cart. $7.85, very good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray to cart. $9.07, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Cloth over boards. Wordsworth Collector's Editions . In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray to cart. $9.08, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray to cart. $12.05, new condition, Sold by Ambis Enterprises LLC rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Benton Harbor, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Brand New! Not Overstocks or Low Quality Book Club Editions! Direct From the Publisher! We're a small town bookstore that loves books and loves it's customers! Buy from US! Cloth over boards. Wordsworth Collector's Editions .
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray (Hardback Or Cased Book) to cart. $12.36, new condition, Sold by BargainBookStores rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions.
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray to cart. $12.78, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensenville, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
Add this copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wordsworth Collector's to cart. $13.37, new condition, Sold by Ebooksweb rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensalem, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Wordsworth Editions Ltd.
This book may have somewhat of a slow start; however, it is worth reading. There lies within a deeper "moral story" for each of us, who dare to finish this one! An interesting story line, which I have never seen duplicated.
reloking
Jul 24, 2009
fair
slow start. difficult reading due to British turn of century phrasing. 2nd half is better.
KLSummers
Jun 2, 2008
'The Picture of Dorian Gray'
this book is a fascinating insight into sin and beauty, crafted from a master of words. Wilde is brilliant and this kind of thing is certainly what he is famed for. it is a book which i have gladly re-read and would read again at any time. i like the way that Dorian is developed over the course of book, how the issues of revenge and love wind their way into the history of the title character. Dorian, as charming and lovely as he is, harbours his wonderful secrets, which serve to thicken the plot and entice the readers. from the first moment of Dorain's fascination, the reader likes him just as the other characters do, yet only we (the readers) are privy to his innermost sins. the writing is more suited to the era it was written in, yet many of Wilde's greatest quotes can - and have - been extracted from it, and it remains today a great novel which anyone who wishes to absorb a little culture should read in their lifetime.
Maggy
Mar 30, 2008
If you like Oscar Wilde, you will love this work...it is a tragedy of the time in which he lived, but, as with all of his works, there is a definite edge of biting humor to it.
dondiego
Nov 1, 2007
What Wonderful Wit
What's not to like about Oscar Wilde? As usual Wilde uses the vehicle of a novel (or a play or a short story) to absolutely skewer "drawing room morality" and social intercourse. His biting observations are still relevant and have not been rendered passe by the passage of time. This novel, and really all of Wilde's work, is a target rich environment for aphorisms, as for example when Dorian Gray's friend Lord Henry observes "The only things one never regrets are one's mistakes". This novel tells the story of Dorian Gray who is introduced to us as a naive and beautiful young man. He his sitting for a portrait by his friend Basil Hallward who is nothing less than inspired by Gray and produces one his finest portraits. Basil's friend, Lord Henry Wooten is equally intrigued by Gray but with entirely different motives; Wooten craves the pleasure of corrupting the purity of youth. Upon viewing the completed portrait Dorian makes a wish that he may always look as he does in the portrait and whatever coarseness he would acquire from the vicissitudes of life would appear in the portrait and not in his visage. Through the rest of the book you may follow Dorian's descent into depravity accompanied by the richest satire this side of J. Swift. Read it, quote it at cocktail parties and tell your illiterate friends about it.