Interesting. When I first read the Picture of Dorian Gray, I had no idea of its social context -- I didn't know Oscar Wilde was gay, I didn't know the book was considered controversial. I just picked it up on a whim and thought it was a well-written book full of fantastically clever dialogue and over-the-top cynicism. But I was, ironically, left with an impression that the Victorian era was more comfortable with male intimacy, and appreciation for male beauty, than our own. That turned out not to be quite true, of course, as demonstrated by what they did to Wilde himself.
I read it for the first time in my early 20s, and reason I read it was because when I was about 11 years old I saw an old black and white movie of it, and I had nightmares for quite some time (over the ending/fire).
It wasn't the only film to give me nightmares as a child, but it was definitely the first!
For me it is one of those books I re-read every few years, along with LotR, Amber chronicles, the Dune series, etc.
There’s a line in the book I quite liked: “All the interesting people disappear to San Francisco.” Was incredible to me that even back then, SF was known for its homosexual culture. Lord Henry was remarking on where Basil likely had disappeared, so the insinuation was that Basil felt more at home in SF.
Apparently there are several, significantly different versions of "The picture of Dorian Gray". I'm not sure which one I've read, or which one I should read. Any suggestions?
They're all great, but the 2012 "The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray" is the closest to the original script before the editor cut out things that he deemed... checks notes... "too gay".
It restores parts that were cut, and essentially bans chapter 3 and some other digressions on art history that Wilde added as a literary Beard to the footnotes - still there to read, but set in context)
It's not a huge different honestly, but I believe Oscar Wilde would want you to read that version.
I'd place it 5th in my overall favorite books list. It is certainly one which has influenced me deeply and continues to do so, ever since I first read it 13 years ago.
Interesting. When I first read the Picture of Dorian Gray, I had no idea of its social context -- I didn't know Oscar Wilde was gay, I didn't know the book was considered controversial. I just picked it up on a whim and thought it was a well-written book full of fantastically clever dialogue and over-the-top cynicism. But I was, ironically, left with an impression that the Victorian era was more comfortable with male intimacy, and appreciation for male beauty, than our own. That turned out not to be quite true, of course, as demonstrated by what they did to Wilde himself.
But it's still a fantastic novel.
It is a good read, even now.
I read it for the first time in my early 20s, and reason I read it was because when I was about 11 years old I saw an old black and white movie of it, and I had nightmares for quite some time (over the ending/fire).
It wasn't the only film to give me nightmares as a child, but it was definitely the first!
For me it is one of those books I re-read every few years, along with LotR, Amber chronicles, the Dune series, etc.
I always wondered what trait was left on the picture when Dorian Gray considered converting to Catholicism
The fates of Wilde and Turing are two big black stains on the history of the UK (not the only ones, of course).
Turing even more, as by 1950, the society was much less religious overall and there was less reason to keep homosexuality illegal.
I think you meant to say their treatment was two big black stains. A bit awkwardly worded implying the men themselves were the stains.
Thanks. I fixed that. I am not a native speaker and I sometimes fall into such traps, but this I could have seen.
There’s a line in the book I quite liked: “All the interesting people disappear to San Francisco.” Was incredible to me that even back then, SF was known for its homosexual culture. Lord Henry was remarking on where Basil likely had disappeared, so the insinuation was that Basil felt more at home in SF.
https://archive.ph/pdEL2
Apparently there are several, significantly different versions of "The picture of Dorian Gray". I'm not sure which one I've read, or which one I should read. Any suggestions?
They're all great, but the 2012 "The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray" is the closest to the original script before the editor cut out things that he deemed... checks notes... "too gay".
It restores parts that were cut, and essentially bans chapter 3 and some other digressions on art history that Wilde added as a literary Beard to the footnotes - still there to read, but set in context)
It's not a huge different honestly, but I believe Oscar Wilde would want you to read that version.
It
I'd place it 5th in my overall favorite books list. It is certainly one which has influenced me deeply and continues to do so, ever since I first read it 13 years ago.
Now everyone including me wants to know your top 4!
I concur. Give us your list, GP :-)
Dorian Gray jokes never get old...
Except for that one written on the last page of the notebook that definitely did not age well.
A wonderful play. The production of this with Sarah Snook from Succession was absolutely amazing.
The longest lasting impact of the novel (personally for me) was how it introduced me to the concept of Opium Dens
I just recently listened to this from Audible. I was a grand novel. The dialogue was amazing.
Which version did you listen to?
Uhm, actually, the PICTURE of Dorian Gray ages.