Le portrait de Dorian Gray

Par Oscar Wilde

Le Portrait de Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray) est un roman d'Oscar Wilde, publié en 1890 (révisé en 1891) et écrit dans le contexte de l'époque victorienne. L'auteur y inclut des thèmes relevant de l'esthétique tels que l'art, la beauté, la jeunesse, la morale, l'hédonisme, etc. Le roman est fantastique, mais aussi philosophique, et met en lumière la personnalité équivoque du dandy irlandais. C'est également l'unique roman de Wilde dans toute sa carrière.

Le Portrait de Dorian Gray traite du rôle des influences dans le destin d'un homme. Tout commence en effet avec les mots de Lord Henry, qui font prendre conscience à Dorian à la fois de sa beauté, et du caractère éphémère de celle-ci. C'est ce qui déclenche son vœu insensé. Sans l'influence des mots de Lord Henry, pas de roman. Or si les influences ont leur importance pour la trame du roman, elles en ont également beaucoup dans l'écriture de Oscar Wilde.

• Langue: Français
• Éditeur: Aegitas
• Date de sortie: 15 juin 2015
• ISBN: 9785000641477

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, novelist and playwright. Born to a pair of Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin, Wilde had a classical education and spoke fluent French and German even as a child. He attended Trinity College in Dublin and then transferred to Oxford to complete his studies. After graduation, Wilde moved to London to join the emerging "aesthetic" movement and begin life as one of his era's most important and infamous social and literary figures.Wilde almost immediately became a fixture in London high society, celebrated for his intellect and his razor-sharp wit. Unsure of what kind of writer he wanted to be, Wilde continued writing poetry - publishing a collection of verse in 1881 at age 27 - and traveled to America as a lecturer on aestheticism (an art movement that celebrated the simple beauty of art over the deeper or political themes behind it). His many essays and dialogues on this subject would eventually lead him to publish his first and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890.Eventually, Wilde was drawn to write for the stage, beginning with Salome in 1891, but swiftly transitioning to comedies, penning four of the era's most celebrated and enduring plays: A Woman of No Importance, Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband and his triumph, The Importance of Being Earnest, which was still running in London when Wilde became embroiled in the legal drama that would lead to his downfall and eventual death. But his poems, plays and sole novel live on and Wilde is now considered one of the most accomplished writers of his era. His works continue to be performed around the world and have been adapted multiple times to the stage and screen.

Aperçu du livre

PRÉFACE

Un artiste est un créateur de belles choses.

Révéler l'Art en cachant l'artiste, tel est le but de l'Art.

Le critique est celui qui peut traduire dans une autre manière ou avec de nouveaux procédés l'impression que lui laissèrent de belles choses.

L'autobiographie est à la fois la plus haute et la plus basse des formes de la critique.

Ceux qui trouvent de laides intentions en de belles choses sont corrompus sans être séduisants. Et c'est une faute.

Ceux qui trouvent de belles intentions dans les belles choses sont les cultivés. Il reste à ceux-ci l'espérance.

Ce sont les élus pour qui les belles choses signifient simplement la Beauté. Un livre n'est point moral ou immoral. Il est bien ou mal écrit. C'est tout.

Le dédain du XIXe siècle pour le réalisme est tout pareil à la rage de Caliban apercevant sa face dans un miroir.

Le dédain du XIXe siècle pour le Romantisme est semblable à la rage de Caliban n'apercevant pas sa face dans un miroir.

La vie morale de l'homme forme une part du sujet de l'artiste, mais la moralité de l'art consiste dans l'usage parfait d'un moyen imparfait.

L'artiste ne désire prouver quoi que ce soit. Même les choses vraies peuvent être prouvées.

L'artiste n'a point de sympathies éthiques. Une sympathie morale dans un artiste amène un maniérisme impardonnable du style.

L'artiste n'est jamais pris au dépourvu. Il peut exprimer toute chose.

Pour l'artiste, la pensée et le langage sont les instruments d'un art.

Le vice et la vertu en sont les matériaux. Au point de vue de la forme, le type de tous les arts est la musique. Au point de vue de la sensation, c'est le métier de comédien. Tout art est à la fois surface et symbole.

Ceux qui cherchent sous la surface le font à leurs risques et périls.

Ceux-là aussi qui tentent de pénétrer le symbole.

C'est le spectateur, et non la vie, que l'Art reflète réellement.

Les diversités d'opinion sur une oeuvre d'art montrent que cette oeuvre est nouvelle, complexe et viable.

Alors que les critiques diffèrent, l'artiste est en accord avec lui-même.

Nous pouvons pardonner à un homme d'avoir fait une chose utile aussi longtemps qu'il ne l'admire pas. La seule excuse d'avoir fait une chose inutile est de l'admirer intensément.

L'Art est tout à fait inutile.

OSCAR WILDE.

I

L'atelier était plein de l'odeur puissante des roses, et quand une légère brise d'été souffla parmi les arbres du jardin, il vint par la porte ouverte, la senteur lourde des lilas et le parfum plus subtil des églantiers.

D'un coin du divan fait de sacs persans sur lequel il était étendu, fumant, selon sa coutume, d'innombrables cigarettes, lord Henry Wotton pouvait tout juste apercevoir le rayonnement des douces fleurs couleur de miel d'un arbour, dont les tremblantes branches semblaient à peine pouvoir supporter le poids d'une aussi flamboyante splendeur; et de temps à autre, les ombres fantastiques des oiseaux fuyants passaient sur les longs rideaux de tussor tendus devant la large fenêtre, produisant une sorte d'effet japonais momentané, le faisant penser à ces peintres de Tokio à la figure de jade pallide, qui, par le moyen d'un art nécessairement immobile, tentent d'exprimer le sens de la vitesse et du mouvement. Le murmure monotone des abeilles cherchant leur chemin dans les longues herbes non fauchées ou voltigeant autour des poudreuses baies dorées d'un chèvrefeuille isolé, faisait plus oppressant encore ce grand calme. Le sourd grondement de Londres semblait comme la note bourdonnante d'un orgue éloigné.

Au milieu de la chambre sur un chevalet droit, s'érigeait le portrait grandeur naturelle d'un jeune homme d'une extraordinaire beauté, et en face, était assis, un peu plus loin, le peintre lui-même, Basil Hallward, dont la disparition soudaine quelques années auparavant, avait causé un grand émoi public et donné naissance à tant de conjectures.

Comme le peintre regardait la gracieuse et charmante figure que son art avait si subtilement reproduite, un sourire de plaisir passa sur sa face et parut s'y attarder. Mais il tressaillit soudain, et fermant les yeux, mit les doigts sur ses paupières comme s'il eût voulu emprisonner dans son cerveau quelque étrange rêve dont il eût craint de se réveiller.

—Ceci est votre meilleure oeuvre, Basil, la meilleure chose que vous ayez jamais faite, dit lord Henry languissamment. Il faut l'envoyer l'année prochaine à l'exposition Grosvenor. L'Académie est trop grande et trop vulgaire. Chaque fois que j'y suis allé, il y avait la tant de monde qu'il m'a été impossible de voir les tableaux, ce qui était épouvantable, ou tant de tableaux que je n'ai pu y voir le monde, ce qui était encore plus horrible. Grosvenor est encore le seul endroit convenable....

—Je ne crois pas que j'enverrai ceci quelque part, répondit le peintre en rejetant la tête de cette singulière façon qui faisait se moquer de lui ses amis d'Oxford. Non, je n'enverrai ceci nulle part.

Lord Henry leva les yeux, le regardant avec étonnement à travers les minces spirales de fumée bleue qui s'entrelaçaient fantaisistement au bout de sa cigarette opiacée.

—Vous n'enverrez cela nulle part? Et pourquoi mon cher ami? Quelle raison donnez-vous? Quels singuliers bonshommes vous êtes, vous autres peintres? Vous remuez le monde pour acquérir de la réputation; aussitôt que vous l'avez, vous semblez vouloir vous en débarrasser. C'est ridicule de votre part, car s'il n'y a qu'une chose au monde pire que la renommée, c'est de n'en pas avoir. Un portrait comme celui-ci vous mettrait au-dessus de tous les jeunes gens de l'Angleterre, et rendrait les vieux jaloux, si les vieux pouvaient encore ressentir quelque émotion.

—Je sais que vous rirez de moi, répliqua-t-il, mais je ne puis réellement l'exposer. J'ai mis trop de moi-même là-dedans.

Lord Henry s'étendit sur le divan en riant....

—Je savais que vous ririez, mais c'est tout à fait la même chose.

—Trop de vous-même!... Sur ma parole, Basil, je ne vous savais pas si vain; je ne vois vraiment pas de ressemblance entre vous, avec votre rude et forte figure, votre chevelure noire comme du charbon et ce jeune Adonis qui a l'air fait d'ivoire et de feuilles de roses. Car, mon cher, c'est Narcisse lui-même, tandis que vous!... Il est évident que votre face respire l'intelligence et le reste.... Mais la beauté, la réelle beauté finit où commence l'expression intellectuelle. L'intellectualité est en elle-même un mode d'exagération, et détruit l'harmonie de n'importe quelle face. Au moment où l'on s'asseoit pour penser, on devient tout nez, ou tout front, ou quelque chose d'horrible. Voyez les hommes ayant réussi dans une profession savante, combien ils sont parfaitement hideux! Excepté, naturellement, dans l'Église. Mais dans l'Église, ils ne pensent point. Un évèque dit à l'âge de quatre-vingts ans ce qu'on lui apprit à dire à dix-huit et la conséquence naturelle en est qu'il a toujours l'air charmant. Votre mystérieux jeune ami dont vous ne m'avez jamais dit le nom, mais dont le portrait me fascine réellement, n'a jamais pensé. Je suis sûr de cela. C'est une admirable créature sans cervelle qui pourrait toujours ici nous remplacer en hiver les fleurs absentes, et nous rafraîchir l'intelligence en été. Ne vous flattez pas, Basil: vous ne lui ressemblez pas le moins du monde.

—Vous ne me comprenez point, Harry, répondit l'artiste. Je sais bien que je ne lui ressemble pas; je le sais parfaitement bien. Je serais même fâché de lui ressembler. Vous levez les épaules?... Je vous dis la vérité. Une fatalité pèse sur les distinctions physiques et intellectuelles, cette sorte de fatalité qui suit à la piste à travers l'histoire les faux pas des rois. Il vaut mieux ne pas être différent de ses contemporains. Les laids et les sots sont les mieux partagés sous ce rapport dans ce monde. Ils peuvent s'asseoir à leur aise et bâiller au spectacle. S'ils ne savent rien de la victoire, la connaissance de la défaite leur est épargnée. Ils vivent comme nous voudrions vivre, sans être troublés, indifférents et tranquilles. Il n'importunent personne, ni ne sont importunés. Mais vous, avec votre rang et votre fortune, Harry, moi, avec mon cerveau tel qu'il est, mon art aussi imparfait qu'il puisse être, Dorian Gray avec sa beauté, nous souffrirons tous pour ce que les dieux nous ont donné, nous souffrirons terriblement....

—Dorian Gray? Est-ce son nom, demanda lord Henry, en allant vers Basil Hallward.

—Oui, c'est son nom. Je n'avais pas l'intention de vous le dire.

—Et pourquoi?

—Oh! je ne puis vous l'expliquer. Quand j'aime quelqu'un intensément, je ne dis son nom à personne. C'est presque une trahison. J'ai appris à aimer le secret. Il me semble que c'est la seule chose qui puisse nous faire la vie moderne mystérieuse ou merveilleuse. La plus commune des choses nous paraît exquise si quelqu'un nous la cache. Quand je quitte cette ville, je ne dis à personne où je vais: en le faisant, je perdrais tout mon plaisir. C'est une mauvaise habitude, je l'avoue, mais en quelque sorte, elle apporte dans la vie une part de romanesque.... Je suis sûr que vous devez me croire fou à m'entendre parler ainsi?...

—Pas du tout, répondit lord Henry, pas du tout, mon cher Basil. Vous semblez oublier que je suis marié et que le seul charme du mariage est qu'il fait une vie de déception absolument nécessaire aux deux parties. Je ne sais jamais où est ma femme, et ma femme ne sait jamais ce que je fais. Quand nous nous rencontrons—et nous nous rencontrons de temps à autre, quand nous dinons ensemble dehors, ou que nous allons chez le due—nous nous contons les plus absurdes histoires de l'air le plus sérieux du monde. Dans cet ordre d'idées, ma femme m'est supérieure. Elle n'est jamais embarrassée pour les dates, et je le suis toujours; quand elle s'en rend compte, elle ne me fait point de scène; parfois je désirerais qu'elle m'en fît; mais elle se contente de me rire au nez.

—Je n'aime pas cette façon de parler de votre vie conjugale, Harry, dit Basil Hallward en allant vers la porte conduisant au jardin. Je vous crois un très bon mari honteux de ses propres vertus. Vous êtes un être vraiment extraordinaire. Vous ne dites jamais une chose morale, et jamais vous ne faites une chose mauvaise. Votre cynisme est simplement une pose.

—Etre naturel est aussi une pose, et la plus irritante que je connaisse, s'exclama en riant lord Henry.

Les deux jeunes gens s'en allèrent ensemble dans le jardin et s'assirent sur un long siège de bambou posé à l'ombre d'un buisson de lauriers. Le soleil glissait sur les feuilles polies; de blanches marguerites tremblaient sur le gazon.

Après un silence, lord Henry tira sa montre.

—Je dois m'en aller, Basil, murmura-t-il, mais avant de partir, j'aimerais avoir une réponse à la question que je vous ai posée tout à l'heure.

—Quelle question, dit le peintre, restant les yeux fixés à terre?

—Vous la savez....

—Mais non, Harry.

—Bien, je vais vous la redire. J'ai besoin que vous m'expliquiez pourquoi vous ne voulez pas exposer le portrait de Dorian Gray. Je désire en connaître la vraie raison.

—Je vous l'ai dite.

—Non pas. Vous m'avez dit que c'était parce qu'il y avait beaucoup trop de vous-même dans ce portrait. Cela est enfantin....

—Harry, dit Basil Hallward, le regardant droit dans les yeux, tout portrait peint compréhensivement est un portrait de l'artiste, non du modèle. Le modèle est purement l'accident, l'occasion. Ce n'est pas lui qui est révélé par le peintre; c'est plutôt le peintre qui, sur la toile colorée, se révèle lui-même. La raison pour laquelle je n'exhiberai pas ce portrait consiste dans la terreur que j'ai de montrer par lui le secret de mon âme!

Lord Henry se mit à rire....

—Et quel est-il?

—Je vous le dirai, répondit Hallward, la figure assombrie.

—Je suis tout oreilles, Basil, continua son compagnon.

—Oh! c'est vraiment peu de chose, Harry, repartit le peintre et je crois bien que vous ne le comprendrez point. Peut-être à peine le croirez-vous....

Lord Henry sourit; se baissant, il cueillit dans le gazon une marguerite aux pétales roses et l'examinant:

—Je suis tout à fait sûr que je comprendrai cela, dit-il, en regardant attentivement le petit disque doré, aux pétales blancs, et quant à croire aux choses, je les crois toutes, pourvu qu'elles soient incroyables.

Le vent détacha quelques fleurs des arbustes et les lourdes grappes de lilas se balancèrent dans l'air languide. Une cigale stridula près du mur, et, comme un fil bleu, passa une longue et mince libellule dont on entendit frémir les brunes ailes de gaze. Lord Henry restait silencieux comme s'il avait voulu percevoir les battements du coeur de Basil Hallward, se demandant ce qui allait se passer.

—Voici l'histoire, dit le peintre après un temps. Il y a deux mois, j'allais en soirée chez Lady Brandon. Vous savez que nous autres, pauvres artistes, nous avons à nous montrer dans le monde de temps à autre, juste assez pour prouver que nous ne sommes pas des sauvages. Avec un habit et une cravate blanche, tout le monde, même un agent de change, peut en arriver à avoir la réputation d'un être civilisé. J'étais donc dans le salon depuis une dizaine de minutes, causant avec des douairières lourdement parées ou de fastidieux académiciens, quand soudain je perçus obscurément que quelqu'un m'observait. Je me tournai à demi et pour la première fois, je vis Dorian Gray. Nos yeux se rencontrèrent et je me sentis pâlir. Une singulière terreur me poignit.... Je compris que j'étais en face de quelqu'un dont la simple personnalité était si fascinante que, si je me laissais faire, elle m'absorberait en entier, moi, ma nature, mon âme et mon talent même. Je ne veux aucune ingérence extérieure dans mon existence. Vous savez, Harry, combien ma vie est indépendante. J'ai toujours été mon maître—je l'avais, tout au moins toujours été, jusqu'au jour de ma rencontre avec Dorian Gray. Alors...mais je ne sais comment vous expliquer ceci.... Quelque chose semblait me dire que ma vie allait traverser une crise terrible. J'eus l'étrange sensation que le destin me réservait d'exquises joies et des chagrins exquis. Je m'effrayai et me disposai à quitter le salon. Ce n'est pas ma conscience qui me faisait agir ainsi, il y avait une sorte de lâcheté dans mon action. Je ne vis point d'autre issue pour m'échapper.

—La conscience et la lâcheté sont réellement les mêmes choses, Basil. La conscience est le surnom de la fermeté. C'est tout.

—Je ne crois pas cela, Harry, et je pense que vous ne le croyez pas non plus. Cependant, quel qu'en fut alors le motif—c'était peut-être l'orgueil, car je suis très orgueilleux—je me précipitai vers la porte. Là, naturellement, je me heurtai contre lady Brandon. «Vous n'avez pas l'intention de partir si vite, M. Hallward», s'écria-t-elle.... Vous connaissez le timbre aigu de sa voix?...

—Oui, elle me fait l'effet d'être un paon en toutes choses, excepté en beauté, dit lord Henry, effeuillant la marguerite de ses longs doigts nerveux....

—Je ne pus me débarrasser d'elle. Elle me présenta à des Altesses, et à des personnes portant Etoiles et Jarretières, à des dames mûres, affublées de tiares gigantesques et de nez de perroquets.... Elle parla de moi comme de son meilleur ami. Je l'avais seulement rencontrée une fois auparavant, mais elle s'était mis en tête de me lancer. Je crois que l'un de mes tableaux avait alors un grand succès et qu'on en parlait dans les journaux de deux sous qui sont, comme vous le savez, les étendards d'immortalité du dix-neuvième siècle. Soudain, je me trouvai face à face avec le jeune homme dont la personnalité m'avait si singulièrement intrigué; nous nous touchions presque; de nouveau nos regards se rencontrèrent. Ce fut indépendant de ma volonté, mais je demandai à Lady Brandon de nous présenter l'un à l'autre. Peut-être après tout, n'était-ce pas si téméraire, mais simplement inévitable. Il est certain que nous nous serions parlé sans présentation préalable; j'en suis sûr pour ma part, et Dorian plus tard me dit la même chose; il avait senti, lui aussi, que nous étions destinés à nous connaître.

—Et comment lady Brandon vous parla-t-elle de ce merveilleux jeune homme, demanda l'ami. Je sais qu'elle a la marotte de donner un précis rapide de chacun de ses invités. Je me souviens qu'elle me présenta une fois à un apoplectique et triculent gentleman, couvert d'ordres et de rubans et sur lui, me souffla à l'oreille, sur un mode tragique, les plus abasourdissants détails, qui durent être perçus de chaque personne alors dans le salon. Cela me mit en fuite; j'aime connaître les gens par moi-même.... Lady Brandon traite exactement ses invités comme un commissaire-priseur ses marchandises. Elle explique les manies et coutumes de chacun, mais oublie naturellement tout ce qui pourrait vous intéresser au personnage.

—Pauvre lady Brandon! Vous êtes dur pour elle, observa nonchalamment Hallward.

—Mon cher ami, elle essaya de fonder un salon et elle ne réussit qu'à ouvrir un restaurant. Comment pourrais-je l'admirer?... Mais, dites-moi, que vous confia-t-elle sur M. Dorian Gray?

—Oh! quelque chose de très vague dans ce genre: «Charmant garçon! Sa pauvre chère mère et moi, étions inséparables. Tout à fait oublié ce qu'il fait, ou plutôt, je crains...qu'il ne fasse rien! Ah! si, il joue du piano.... Ne serait-ce pas plutôt du violon, mon cher M. Gray?»

Nous ne pûmes tous deux nous empêcher de rire et du coup nous devînmes amis.

—L'hilarité n'est pas du tout un mauvais commencement d'amitié, et c'est loin d'en être une mauvaise fin, dit le jeune lord en cueillant une autre marguerite.

Hallward secoua la tête....

—Vous ne pouvez comprendre, Harry, murmura-t-il, quelle sorte d'amitié ou quelle sorte de haine cela peut devenir, dans ce cas particulier. Vous n'aimez personne, ou, si vous le préférez, personne ne vous intéresse.

—Comme vous êtes injuste! s'écria lord Henry, mettant en arrière son chapeau et regardant au ciel les petits nuages, qui, comme les floches d'écheveau d'une blanche soie luisante, fuyaient dans le bleu profond de turquoise de ce ciel d'été.

«Oui, horriblement injuste!.. J'établis une grande différence entre les gens. Je choisis mes amis pour leur bonne mine, mes simples camarades pour leur caractère, et mes ennemis pour leur intelligence; un homme ne saurait trop attacher d'importance au choix de ses ennemis; je n'en ai point un seul qui soit un sot; ce sont tous hommes d'une certaine puissance intellectuelle et, par conséquent, ils m'apprécient. Est-ce très vain de ma part d'agir ainsi! Je crois que c'est plutôt...vain.»

—Je pense que ça l'est aussi Harry. Mais m'en référant à votre manière de sélection, je dois être pour vous un simple camarade.

—Mon bon et cher Basil, vous m'êtes mieux qu'un camarade....

—Et moins qu'un ami: Une sorte de...frère, je suppose!

—Un frère!.. Je me moque pas mal des frères!.. Mon frère aîné ne veut pas mourir, et mes plus jeunes semblent vouloir l'imiter.

—Harry! protesta Hallward sur un ton chagrin.

—Mon bon, je ne suis pas tout à fait sérieux. Mais je ne puis m'empêcher de détester mes parents; je suppose que cela vient de ce que chacun de nous ne peut supporter de voir d'autres personnes ayant les mêmes défauts que soi-même. Je sympathise tout à fait avec la démocratie anglaise dans sa rage contre ce qu'elle appelle les vices du grand monde. La masse sent que l'ivrognerie, la stupidité et l'immoralité sont sa propriété, et si quelqu'un d'entre nous assume l'un de ces défauts, il paraît braconner sur ses chasses.... Quand ce pauvre Southwark vint devant la «Cour du Divorce» l'indignation de cette même masse fut absolument magnifique—et je suis parfaitement convaincu que le dixième du peuple ne vit pas comme il conviendrait.

—Je n'approuve pas une seule des paroles que vous venez de prononcer, et, je sens, Harry, que vous ne les approuvez pas plus que moi.

Lord Henry caressa sa longue barbe brune taillée en pointe, et tapotant avec sa canne d'ébène orné de glands sa bottine de cuir fin:

—Comme vous êtes bien anglais Basil! Voici la seconde fois que vous me faites cette observation. Si l'on fait part d'une idée à un véritable Anglais—ce qui est toujours une chose téméraire—il ne cherche jamais à savoir si l'idée est bonne ou mauvaise; la seule chose à laquelle il attache quelque importance est de découvrir ce que l'on en pense soi-même. D'ailleurs la valeur d'une idée n'a rien à voir avec la sincérité de l'homme qui l'exprime. A la vérité, il y a de fortes chances pour que l'idée soit intéressante en proportion directe du caractère insincère du personnage, car, dans ce cas elle ne sera colorée par aucun des besoins, des désirs ou des préjugés de ce dernier. Cependant, je ne me propose pas d'aborder les questions politiques, sociologiques ou métaphysiques avec vous. J'aime mieux les personnes que leurs principes, et j'aime encore mieux les personnes sans principes que n'importe quoi au monde. Parlons encore de M. Dorian Gray. L'avez-vous vu souvent?

—Tous les jours. Je ne saurais être heureux si je ne le voyais chaque jour. Il m'est absolument nécessaire.

—Vraiment curieux! Je pensais que vous ne vous souciez d'autre chose que de votre art....

—Il est tout mon art, maintenant, répliqua le peintre, gravement; je pense quelquefois, Harry, qu'il n'y a que deux ères de quelque importance dans l'histoire du monde. La première est l'apparition d'un nouveau moyen d'art, et la seconde l'avènement d'une nouvelle personnalité artistique. Ce que la découverte de la peinture fut pour les Vénitiens, la face d'Antinoüs pour l'art grec antique, Dorian Gray me le sera quelque jour. Ce n'est pas simplement parce que je le peins, que je le dessine ou que j'en prends des esquisses; j'ai fait tout cela d'abord. Il m'est beaucoup plus qu'un modèle. Cela ne veut point dire que je sois peu satisfait de ce que j'ai fait d'après lui ou que sa beauté soit telle que l'Art ne la puisse rendre. Il n'est rien que l'Art ne puisse rendre, et je sais fort bien que l'oeuvre que j'ai faite depuis ma rencontre avec Dorian Gray est une belle oeuvre, la meilleure de ma vie. Mais, d'une manière indécise et curieuse—je m'étonnerais que vous puissiez me comprendre—sa personne m'a suggéré une manière d'art entièrement nouvelle, un mode d'expression entièrement nouveau. Je vois les choses différemment; je les pense différemment. Je puis maintenant vivre une existence qui m'était cachée auparavant. «Une forme rêvée en des jours de pensée» qui a dit cela? Je ne m'en souviens plus; mais c'est exactement ce que Dorian Gray m'a été. La simple présence visible de cet adolescent—car il ne me semble guère qu'un adolescent, bien qu'il ait plus de vingt ans—la simple présence visible de cet adolescent!... Ah! je m'étonnerais que vous puissiez vous rendre compte de ce que cela signifie! Inconsciemment, il définit pour moi les lignes d'une école nouvelle, d'une école qui unirait

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[joe73-1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Great story about some despicable and jaded people.

[curlupandread · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

I was really surprised by this book. It was better than I thought it would be I really enjoyed it.

[ukforever · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

A fantastic plot buried under too many words (mostly coming from the mouth of Lord Henry). It would have made a gripping and terrifying novella or short story. To alter an accusation from Dorian and turn it back on Wilde, "You would sacrifice any reader, Oscar, for the sake of an epigram."

[ffortuna_6 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

There's a lot going on here for such a slender book, but I should expect nothing less from Oscar Wilde. It reads a little clunky at the beginning, it's just wit-wit-wit and since it's almost all coming from one character in large paragraphs, it doesn't move as smoothly as one of Wilde's plays. Those sections set the tone for the rest of the book, though. Without them, you wouldn't understand Lord Henry, and without that knowledge the book would be very hard to parse indeed. Although it's a character study of Dorian Gray, or a character drama or something like that, Lord Henry is the inciting incident, the fulcrum of the action, and the most complex character. People are constantly insisting "Oh, you don't believe that awful thing you just said," and he doesn't, but that makes him all the worse. Dorian tells him late in the book, "You would sacrifice anybody, Harry, for the sake of an epigram," and that's the horrible truth of him. I wish we'd had some insight into his opinion of his artwork, aka Dorian Gray's twisted nature, after it was finished, but I suppose we don't really need it, and that might have explained things away too much.Dorian is interesting too, though. The gradual development of his character is really masterful, done partly in implications and partly with stated facts. His self-delusion -- acting as if he's the one who's been wronged when a girl commits suicide because of him, and only deepening in the climax -- is perfectly believable. This is a book that would stand repeated readings and analysis to tease out the different threads and their implications, and I won't try to do that here. I must say, though, I'm quite blown away by how the "picture of Dorian Gray" idea seems like such an archetype now, when it's only famous because of this book. I mean to say, the idea of a man staying young while his picture grows old seems like such a mythical, omnipresent idea, like the idea of a vampire or a werewolf, but it wasn't before this. Having now read the book, I'd say the impact is well-deserved, and reading the book is valuable because of how many themes it involves that other books may not be willing to address. A lot of books shy away from depicting realistic selfishness, but this one doesn't.

[angelag86 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

I was kind of underwhelmed by this one. Some interesting ideas were brought up, but the story itself wasn't as riveting as I thought it would be.

[msaucier818 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Surprisingly good read of a classic that I had known little about. The only thing I knew about the story came from the terrible move "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" where Dorian Gray is one of the characters. I had higher hopes for the book and I was happy by the time I finished.

The language used by Wilde in telling this story is beautiful. I enjoyed his writing style and his ability to create characters that expound on life and its virtues and flaws. To see the personal character of Gray go from purely good to evil is a fascinating experience. To read about the influence of both good and evil characters on his development is also fun.

Like many classics, I found that the story itself moved along at a very slow pace. It was more about the conversations and thoughts of the characters than moving the plot along. However, I enjoyed the read and recommend it to all fans of literature.

[eadieb-1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Dorian Gray sold his soul for eternal youth and beauty while his painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years. This was a fascinating read. A timeless masterpiece, the book shows the struggle and torment of good and evil. I loved the character of Lord Henry Wotton. I would have to say that Oscar Wilde was a genius! I will definitely have to read this one again!

[thereadingmermaid · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Oscar Wilde takes us back to a time in England where high society was the grain of life, women were nothing but idol play things and men mostly lusted after each other rather than the embrace of a woman. As much as people like to see Dorian Gray as the villain in this novel, I very much feel he is rather the victim. I feel that if it wasn't for his acquaintance turned friend Lord Henry, that this may have very well been a happy tale. It was Lord Henry's influence that turned a painter's admiration into lust, women into meaningless objects and the leader in Gray's downfall. Although some of the story was interesting/entertaining, there was a great portion of it that was not. Wilde's writing is very drull to say the least. However this is coming from an American point of view. I'm sure someone from Brittain who enjoys all the high society chit chat would have found the tale much more captivating. All-in-all I would say this is an okay read given the classic that it is but I wouldn't recommend it unless I knew someone extremely into the classics or British history.

[maxernst11 · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Prachtige sfeerschepping, sterk thrillerachtig, vol spitse oneliners en cynische filosofietjes.

[syndelle777 · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Oscar Wilde takes us back to a time in England where high society was the grain of life, women were nothing but idol play things and men mostly lusted after each other rather than the embrace of a woman. As much as people like to see Dorian Gray as the villain in this novel, I very much feel he is rather the victim. I feel that if it wasn't for his acquaintance turned friend Lord Henry, that this may have very well been a happy tale. It was Lord Henry's influence that turned a painter's admiration into lust, women into meaningless objects and the leader in Gray's downfall. Although some of the story was interesting/entertaining, there was a great portion of it that was not. Wilde's writing is very drull to say the least. However this is coming from an American point of view. I'm sure someone from Brittain who enjoys all the high society chit chat would have found the tale much more captivating. All-in-all I would say this is an okay read given the classic that it is but I wouldn't recommend it unless I knew someone extremely into the classics or British history.

[fatmashahin · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

3.5 stars

"The artist is the creator of beautiful things."

WELL, THIS WAS INTERESTING.

This book has a lot going for it. For one, it has some beautifully written passages. Pretty much every other line in this novel can stand on its own as a thought-provoking, philosophical quote. The Picture of Dorian Gray really is great fodder for essays, and discussions, and any form of communication requiring words really.

As for this novel's characters, I will say that they were not the most likable, and I think that's kind of the point. At first I was like oh, Lord Henry seems to have some cool stuff to say but then I was like nah he's just a pretentious snob. The stuff he preaches is nothing if not controversial though. Basil was a semi-normal, tame human being, which was nice given the nature of the other characters (i.e. crazy/depraved/not very nice). Dorian was... interesting? HE IS MESSED UP. I honestly don't know how he got off the rails so quickly. Regardless, I enjoyed how his storyline ended up unfolding, especially the ending (!!!). Seriously, he thought he could do all the horrendous things he did and then atone for them by "being nice." That is not how it works my friend. Also, I cannot leave out Sybil because her storyline was ridiculous. I don't know if it was hilarious or grating. Probably both. I could not have rolled my eyes enough times.

My only qualm with this book is that I wish it had more plot with better pacing. Apart from a couple of "big" incidents, (the reveal of what the painting could do, Sybil dying, Basil getting STABBED and burned) there wasn't much plot-wise that I could really sink my teeth into. Because the plot was so slowgoing at times, the pacing felt a bit inconsistent. Some parts left me totally engrossed, while others just left me wondering why any of the stuff I was reading mattered.

I kind of wish I had studied this in class because there's heaps and heaps to talk about when it comes to Dorian Gray.

Conclusion: The Picture of Dorian Gray is the kind of novel that begs to be analyzed, urging you to look more closely at what it's trying to say. It's engaging, it's accessible, and it's definitely worth your while. Also, its prose is just a wonder to behold.

PS: The comments on women in this book were not very nice.
Exhibit A: "My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly."
It took everything I had to keep it together. If this weren't a classic I probably would've lost it.

[thathikermeg · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Big fan, reread this for a project. Wish Wilde’s publisher hadn’t rushed the added chapters to this version, however.Later edit: Boy, I really didn't feel like writing much when I put that one up. Ok, this is a 4.5 star rating. I adore Wilde's prose, no matter how much my peers might criticize his aesthetic style. I know it's hypocritical to the "message" of the story (subject of the paper mentioned earlier) but I don't really care, it's indulgent and lovely and beautiful. I don't have the skills required to describe it as nicely as he could. Ah, what a guy.

[catellington · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

"I have nothing to declare but my genius."
? Oscar Wilde

And indeed, he was genius! I actually read Wilde's masterpiece, The Picture of Dorian Gray, as a child in the early 1980s, but then again, for a second time, in 2012. And even after all those years, it still gave me the creeps. For it is a story most petrifying.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was way ahead of its time?still reverberating volumes today. It is a cult classic in literature, and I reckon that it will continue to remain so for generations to come.

[bookconcierge · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

This is a fascinating book. No wonder it's a classic!

[nospi-2 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Read in kindle/Audible through Whispersync/immersion reading.

Fabulous one-liners interspersed in dialogue throughout the book.


"Like all people who try to exhaust a subject, he exhausted his listeners. "
"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable"

Simon Prebbles narrated/performed the book superbly. 5 star performance.

[imperfectcj · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Despite a hasty bargain with his soul which left him perpetually youthful-looking, Dorian Gray was unable to avoid one heck of a midlife crisis.

I didn't like this book as much as I expected I would, but I did enjoy it. The description is lush, and there's some fabulous dialogue---to be expected from Wilde---some of which is almost entirely gratuitous (like the conversations between Lord Henry and the Duchess near the end), but it's so great, I didn't even mind.

There is a lot about the separation of the soul from the body and if it's even possible to have such a separation. At times, it sounds like a perversion of Buddhist philosophy, like when Dorian says to Basil, "To become the spectator of one's own life, as Harry says, is to escape the suffering of life." It got me thinking about what exactly the difference is between mindfully allowing emotions and physical sensations to go by and completely separating oneself from them, as Dorian does. Of course, the separation in Dorian's case causes him to abandon his non-physical self to corruption and degradation, which isn't really in line with Buddhist philosophy at all.

Dorian muses, "Beneath its purple pall, the face painted on the canvas could grow bestial, sodden, and unclean. What did it matter? No one could see it." What does it matter that our souls become corrupt so long as they remain hidden? But of course, it does matter, both in the book and in real life. There's such a focus in the book on beautiful-looking things necessarily being beautiful in nature (or that it doesn't matter whether someone/something is good or evil so long as it looks good). I think that Oscar Wilde is criticizing the focus on physical beauty and material excess of his own age; with our culture's worship of youth and rampant consumerism, this criticism easily applies to our own age as well.

There were a couple of encouraging bits, though, like when Lord Henry says, "The only artists I have ever known who are personally delightful are bad artists," which was encouraging to me as someone who, though possessed of many good qualities, has never been described as "delightful." It made me feel hopeful for my writing, if the converse is true. Of course, coming from Lord Henry, perhaps I shouldn't accept that as encouragement. He says a lot of things that appear wise but really shouldn't be taken seriously.

But I absolutely love what Wilde writes in the Preface about art and criticism:

"The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim. The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.

The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography. Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.

Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty."

Next book I read needs to be a lot more positive, though. I think Dorian's incorrigible poverty of spirit may have been responsible for the very hopeless mood I was in all of Tuesday.

[dmyates-1 · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Although I'm not a fan of Oscar Wilde, I decided to make it through this book. Wilde has a way with words and descriptions of anything like no other author. He slowly built Dorian Gray into what he wanted the reader to see. It made me wonder whether Dorian was like this all along or was it the fault of his friend Henry. I trudged through pages of what I felt was too much detail, but in the end the book was worth reading.

[nu5bibliophile · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

It is a story that will question one's morality and beliefs. The character's cynical views on things were overwhelming and wordy at times. The author cautiously remind us how we can be influenced and persuaded to be immoral by those we consider friends and yet sometimes those who are honest and good to us are the ones we push away because we are blinded with sin. This story reminds me why it's important we read classics. I can imagine long discussions or an essay being assigned for this story in a college brit lit class. Indisputably, everyone must read this book at least once.

[dbsovereign · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Don't look at yourself too closely in the mirror or you might spot some wrinkles starting to crack through. Wilde's foray into horror is stupendous!

[grlintrrptdrdng · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

Overall I enjoyed The Picture of Dorian Gray, it's witty, funny at times and captures the obsession over youth well. At times though the wit became too much and would cause me to lose focus because it was going on for 3 of 4 pages about one not even really related to the story subject. Chapter 11, where it tells what Dorian is up to for the rest of his 20s and early 30, wtf was that? Complete mess. I just started to skim after a few pages of that chapter. I really did like the plot though, from the picture changing and Dorian justifying everything then eventually not caring because he still looked fresh. I really wanted the sailor to kill him though.

[kassilem · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

Very interesting book, especially for the time period it was written in. The writing style seems very different from the other books I've read from the time period. And the premise of the story based on debauchery with no lawful repercussions probably upset quite a few people. I liked the story. My father was actually named after Dorian Grey, so I've been meaning to read this book for a while to see what inspired my grandmother to use the name. Not that my father partakes in debauchery, of course. :) Actually I don't know why my father was given the name. Anyways, this is a classic I am not just glad to check off the list and have in my reading repertoire. I ended up enjoying the book and purposefully sat and cross-stitched instead of my other plans just so I could finish the book on audio.

[durgaprsd04-1 · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

A great work of literature. Truly remarkable an idea.I liked this book

[chewdigest · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

Loved it and it was so different from the movie! It had such a strong message that was lost when made into film.

[word.owl · Évaluation : 2 sur 5 étoiles]

"I am so sorry, Harry," he cried, "but really it is entirely your fault. That book you sent me so fascinated me that I forgot how the time was going."

"Yes, I thought you would like it," replied his host, rising from his chair.

"I didn't say I liked it, Harry. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference."

"Ah, you have discovered that?" murmured Lord Henry. And they passed into the dining-room.

[smashbasile · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

This was a chilling read. I really went into this one with no idea of the plotline of this book, and I was... surprised. It offered some great quotes and bizarre themes, and I quite enjoyed it.

[roshreviews · Évaluation : 4 sur 5 étoiles]

How can one rate a classic? If a book was written for an audience staying in a particular type of society, under the moral code of the day, in a particular time frame, how can a person reading it 130 years later have the temerity to judge it for controversial statements or misogynistic ideas? It won’t be right. So all I can do is present my experience with the writing and the plot.

Our eponymous hero, Dorian Gray, is an orphaned rich and naïve twenty year old. He is the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward who seems to have fallen very strongly for Dorian’s physical appeal (only hinted at in the book, not explicitly mentioned.) Basil pours his heart out into the painting and gifts it to Dorian, who exclaims how unfair it would be to have a permanent reminder of his youthful beauty while he grows old and wrinkled. This idea partly germinated in his head due to a new influence over him, that of Sir Henry Wotton, a man fond of spouting philosophical epigrams. The rest of the story builds up on these 4 main characters: Dorian, Basil, Henry, and the painting.

Each of these characters is quite intriguing. The painting, as everyone knows, seems to have a life of its own. It provides a mirror into Dorian’s soul. Dorian is a gullible fool who uses his ears and eyes more than his brains. He comes across as very impressionable and selfish. His is an utterly egoistic character till the very end. Basil is the good soul, the concerned friend, the one with a secret crush that can’t ever come out in the open, the person who tries his best to maintain peace with his friends while not necessarily agreeing with their opinions. His is the only voice of reason among the three leads.

I found Henry Wotton the most intriguing. In terms of morality, he is right between Dorian and Basil. I’m sure we all know at least one person similar to Wotton. Henry keeps giving his "expert advice" to everyone around, whether they want to hear it or not. He considers himself above everyone else and his thoughts deserving of merit. The aesthete in him prefers beauty over morality. He seems to be a thorough misogynist, and puts down women and marriage at every chance he gets. Though he is quite clever, he uses his wit to disparage rather than develop, his cynical nature bursting forth in almost every declaration. However, all this is mere “preaching”. In practice, he seems to be living a life quite the opposite of whatever he proclaims. It would have been so easy to get exasperated and irritated at that character but I felt as if Wilde was trying to take a sarcastic dig at his peers through Wotton, and even used that character to voice his own secret views on the English mentality. Needless to say, Henry has the best one-liners in the book.


The writing style is typical of that literary era. There is a lot of detail in the narration, with entire paragraphs containing a single sentence at times. If you are fond of classics, these hurdles won’t restrict you but allow you to marvel at the beauty of the writing. Unfortunately, contemporary writing has spoiled us and it takes time to get into the spirit of the book. The initial part is a little slow, then the story picks up at a decent enough pace until about Chapters 10-11, which are tedious and longwinded. This will be the biggest hurdle for the modern reader unused to classic reading. Once you go beyond these 2 chapters, the story whooshes ahead with a splendid and unexpected plot turn and you will be engrossed to know what happens next.

What is essential to understand is that the most common version of this novel is not how Oscar Wilde had written it. His original 1890 version contained 13 chapters, the contents of which were deemed to be quite controversial by its publisher. He was asked to tone down the homosexual content, which was quite sacrilegious for the prevalent social mores. A revised and expanded edition was published in April 1891. For this version, Wilde divided the final chapter into two chapters, and added six entirely new chapters, including the ones with James Vane, a character not present in the original version. While this revised version did work on reducing the “homoerotica”, the publisher was still not satisfied and cut down a further 500 words (without informing Wilde) before publishing the book. Wilde never wrote a full-length novel again. And I understand why.

I read the 20 chapter version, and then took a quick glimpse through the original 13 chapter version (labelled as “The uncensored version”). I feel that the writing is indeed much more structured and superior in the original. The revised version seems to meander many times, probably due to the “Fill in the Blanks” that Wilde was compelled to undertake. I am a hundred per cent sure that I would have enjoyed the book even more if I had known about and read the 13 chapter version. If I ever reread this book, that’s the version I’ll go for.

In the meantime, I leave you with a few of Wotton’s thought-provoking quotes from the book. I don’t agree with all of them, but they are quite a food for thought nonetheless.

[pilgrimjess · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

"Behind every exquisite thing that exists, there was something tragic."

'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is an insightful, intriguing and somewhat sinister novel filled with complex characters. Dorian Gray himself isn’t a protagonist that you can really like, he has few redeeming qualities. On the outside he seems the perfect catch with his money, good looks and charm, but in he is unstable, impulsive and fixated on his own pleasures. One minute he is besotted with Sybil Vane, a young actress, the next he is evil towards her simply because she had disappointed him in front of his friends. Dorian is a malign influence on his own friends but is himself easily swayed by his newest friend Lord Henry. It is due to Henry's particular influence that Dorian declares that he would give his soul to remain youthful whilst the portrait that Basil has painted of him ages instead. Dorian may remain beautiful on the outside, but his portrait bears the true appearance of Dorian’s nature making it an almost unrecognisable portrait of the lad.

Lord Henry is a fascinating character who comes out with so many very memorably clever and witty remarks.

"My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals."

Whilst the artist, Basil, is the principled and sensible voice of reason, however, both want to mould Dorian for their own purposes.

It was fascinating to read a novel that explores vanity and the search to stay youthful. However, whilst I could admire Wilde's writing style, his talent and wit are undeniable, and the obsession with image that is addressed is still relevant in today’s image conscious society, it just wasn’t one of those books that I could just sit and read for hours on end. After a while I could simply feel my attention waning. Don't get me wrong there were some great scenes within but my main gripe was with the seemingly never ending descriptions and musings from Dorian and his high society friends. Wilde simply lost my interest at times, this was particularly true when he described Dorian's many hobbies. Ultimately in the end both Dorian and Lord Henry began to bore and annoy me in equal measures.

By today's standards 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is a little tame but it has managed to pass the test of time making it a thought-provoking novel which I'm glad to have finally got around to reading but it is also one that I almost certainly won't revisit despite it's relative brevity.

[persephoneslibrary · Évaluation : 5 sur 5 étoiles]

What’s it about?Basil Hallward, a painter, is fascinated by his latest model Dorian Gray. He paints a portray of the young and beautiful man who falls instantly in love with it. Like Narciss he gets obsessed by his appearance: Dorian wishes for the picture to bear all the changes his own body should go through while ageing. His wish is granted.Dorian Gray lives a Dandy’s life with the constant goal to make his life itself a piece of art. His face and body stay untouched by his excessive behaviour, but his portray reflects every single change of his soul. And his debauched and extravagant life-style ruins other people’s lives…How was it?This is a wonderful spooky-psychological novel(la) with a lot of fun bonmots. Dorian Gray’s development is fascinating: I liked the psychological insights and the variety in which you can read the characters’ relationships. The language is a pleasure to read and I enjoyed the reflections about art. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY is one of the small treasures that unveil new details every time you read it!

[regoodrich · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

I cannot honestly say that I enjoyed this book, though it has a clever plot. The experience was a shudder of unpleasant sensations at every sitting. Dorian Gray is a monster. His story is a walk through the degradation of a soul. The book causes doubt about the actual goodness in humanity, trumpeting the dangers of a selfish nature and the importance of choosing one's friends with the utmost care. As Dorian Gray discovered, friends have a heavy hand in the molding of one's character. Following is one paragraph that stood out to me: "Ah! in what a monstrous moment of pride and passion he had prayed that the portrait should bear the burden of his days, and he keep the unsullied splendor of eternal youth! All his failure had been due to that. Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment." Like Dorian Gray, every member of humanity is free to make choices in life. But for us, the consequences of those choices must be endured. Dorian appeared to sidestep the consequences of his sins, but in truth he bore them in invisible ways as he watched the soul of his portrait rot with corruption. I must now seek out a light-hearted book to lift my spirits and restore my faith in mankind once again.

[carpe_librum · Évaluation : 3 sur 5 étoiles]

As a lover of literature, it's hard not to notice the many great quotes from Oscar Wilde. Here's a few to refresh your memory:?Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.? ?The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.? ?You can never be overdressed or overeducated.?Despite my admiration of his intellect, I've never actually read any of Oscar Wilde's work, and thought it best to remedy that this year. So it was that I picked up the beautifully designed Penguin edition of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, the only novel ever written by Oscar Wilde.I'll admit I was a little apprehensive in the beginning, (what if Wilde is too high-brow for me?) but that was soon put to rest as early as Page 3 when Lord Henry says:"But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face. The moment one sits down to think, one becomes all nose, or all forehead, or something horrid. Look at the successful men in any of the learned professions. How perfectly hideous they are!"I knew then I was safe in expert hands, and continued willingly discovering this once offensive text. We all know the premise (so I won't waste time recounting it) but what I was surprised to learn was that the sins Dorian Gray gets up to are never really expanded upon. His cruel treatment of lovers is there for all to see, but his sexual exploits are only ever alluded to, never described in full. What a pity.There are countless homoerotic scenes - particularly between Lord Henry and Dorian Gray - but there is never any evidence to suggest they were ever together or even whether they loved each other. Lord Henry clearly loves Dorian for his youth and beauty, and in my opinion Dorian admires Lord Henry's ideals and freedoms, but that's as much as we ever really know for sure about them.I was looking forward to reading a gothic horror story of sorts, taking me through the slow degradation of Dorian's soul - reflected in the portrait - however The Picture of Dorian Gray often read like an essay; the character of Lord Henry a mouthpiece for Wilde's own thoughts on society, religion, youth and beauty.In summary, I enjoyed the writing immensely, the plot less so and I'm left to wonder what Oscar Wilde would write about if he had the freedom to write for us today. He was shocking in his time, would he shock us still now? I think he would.