Le Portrait de Dorian Gray

Mass Market Paperback, 319 pages

French language

Published Dec. 16, 1997 by Flammarion.

ISBN:
978-2-08-070764-2
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OCLC Number:
40502075

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3 stars (1 review)

A beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, sits for a portrait. In the garden of the artist's house he falls into conversation with Lord Wotton, who convinces him that only beauty is worth pursuing. Gray wishes that his portrait, and not himself, might age and show the effects of time. His wish comes true, and wild, hedonistic pursuits horribly disfigure the portrait. This Faustian story caused much controversy when it was first published, as it discusses decadent art and culture, and homosexuality. It is now considered one of the great pieces of modern Western literature.

Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it first appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting influence, he responded that there is, in fact, …

51 editions

Review of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray: An Annotated, Uncensored Edition' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Classic horror story, later used against Oscar Wilde in his prosecution. I read the annotated version, which added information and visuals to an already strong story, though the annotations also contained spoilers for those who don't know the full plot.

The most interesting of the annotations described the use of "magic-pictures" in late Victorian fiction. Others picture objects described in the text, and illustrations from later editions. An appendix describes the textual differences between versions, including changes made by editors at the time. The text is drawn from the original manuscript, and is thus "uncensored".

The story is a classic. Wilde's main characters are witty, quick with the bon mot, and occasionally quote other works by the author. The ending is abrupt, and yet satisfying.