[英文原版]ThePicture of Dorian Gray (Penguin English Library)

Paperback: 256pages

Publisher: PenguinClassics (28 Jun 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0141199490

ISBN-13: 978-0141199498

ProductDimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 1.2 cm

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Publication Date: 28 Jun2012 | Series: PenguinEnglish Library

The PenguinEnglish Library Edition of The Picture of DorianGray by Oscar Wilde

'I amjealous of everything whose beauty does not die. I am jealous ofthe portrait you have painted of me ... Why did you paint it? Itwill mock me some day - mock me horribly!'

A story ofevil, debauchery and scandal, Oscar Wilde's only novel tells ofDorian Gray, a beautiful yet corrupt man. When he wishes that aperfect portrait of himself would bear the signs of ageing in hisplace, the picture becomes his hideous secret, as it followsDorian's own downward spiral into cruelty anddepravity. The Picture of Dorian Gray is amasterpiece of the evil in men's hearts, and is as controversialand alluring as Wilde himself.

The PenguinEnglish Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, fromthe eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginningof the First World War.

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AmazonReview

A lush,cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a lovingportrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? AfterBasil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, hissubject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain thesame comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt whilehe continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a youngwoman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife",Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision orsurroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. Thebirds sing just as happily in my garden."

As Hallwardtries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend LordHenry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any numberof Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happywe are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy."But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture ofDorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two(voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for evernew sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-roomdiscussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novelcontradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist hasethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is anunpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy getshis just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it bothways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its ownpunishment." --This text refers to an out of print orunavailable edition of this title.

Review

It seemed to bean impossible task to outdo the former edition of 'Dorian Gray' inthe World's Classics series, but Bristow has achieved his goal. Thequality of the explanatory notes is, simply, superb, and theintroduction is succint but informative, --This textrefers to an out of print or unavailable edition of thistitle.