Oscar Wilde's only published full-length novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for eternal youth. As Basil Hallward, an aspiring artist, puts a few touches on a portrait of his handsome young friend Dorian Gray, Gray wishes that the portrait might grow old while he remains forever young. While Dorian Gray spends his life pursuing fresh experiences and new sensations, his looks do not change. However, the portrait, secretly hidden in the attic of his residence and with which he has grown increasingly obsessed, does. More and more, as Dorian struggles to hide his true identity, the portrait reveals his progressive pathway to dissolution.

Public Domain (P)1999, 2017 Audio Literature / Phoenix Books

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Listening Length	5 hours and 16 minutes
Author	Oscar Wilde
Narrator	Stephen Fry
Audible.com.au Release Date	22 August 2017
Publisher	Phoenix Books
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Abridged
Language	English
ASIN	B074ZQ97PW
Best Sellers Rank	5,968 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 2 in LGBTQ+ Thrillers & Suspense 144 in Psychological Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals) 306 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

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Top reviews from Australia

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Anthea

A rewarding and insightful reading experience!

Reviewed in Australia on 15 September 2018

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This novel is rich in originality, and is beautiful, insightful, and eery. I was so fascinated and repulsed all at once, and yet it is fast becoming one of my favourite reads.

In the beginning of the novel, I could almost smell the beauty described, but towards the end I could smell and taste the ugliness that comes with deceit, violence, and the demoralisation and decaying of the mind and soul. It left me with a bittersweet taste in my mouth, but also a richness of wisdom and insight in my mind and in my heart. It’s a novel that I’m glad that I read, and one that will always stay with me, as many insights are sure to enter my mind at some point and invite introspection. A wonderful classic!

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Zohal

A Young, Handsome Tom Riddle

Reviewed in Australia on 21 August 2017

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Gosh classics can be depressing. Think about reading a book about how young, handsome Tom Riddle corrupted his soul ... that is basically this book. The difference is that it's not fantasy and Dorian Gray starts off as aving the mindset of a 5 year old ... impressionable and easily influenced by others. It is a story of a vain wish gone wrong. Good stuff! I hated how the female characters were written but considering the time period I am not really surprised. However, this classic has great writing and is deeply engaging!

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The Horcrux of the Matter.

Reviewed in Australia on 27 December 2014

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Apart from a rather lengthy chunk of the book that is not much more than a shopping list for the vainglorious, this novel is a good Faustian tale. The idea that we can put our soul or our conscience into a receptacle may be very appealing, until one reads this cautionary tale. Karma happens, we all must be prepared to accept it's consequences when it comes back around.

One person found this helpful

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Classic Tale

Reviewed in Australia on 5 October 2019

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I'm a fan of Oscar's writing style. He knows how to weave words in the most descriptive ways. The picture of Dorian Gray is an enjoyable read.

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Jo Swan

Brilliant

Reviewed in Australia on 21 May 2015

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An incisive portrait of humanity. A brilliant gothic tale of self-love morphing to self-loathing. Psychological understandings before their time. Couldn't put it down.

One person found this helpful

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zeehanrose

Perfect gothic classic

Reviewed in Australia on 2 February 2018

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I've watched the movies but there is nothing like reading the book for yourself. What would you do with such a life?

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Jeff

All good.

Reviewed in Australia on 19 December 2017

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Good quality. Fast delivery.

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Jessica

Fantastic

Reviewed in Australia on 24 December 2014

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Amazing, in my opinion one of the best books ever written.

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Rob Ash

Beautiful Edition of the Original Picture of Dorian Gray at Exceptional Value!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2020

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I'm not sure it's worth my reviewing the story in this book since everyone is so familiar with it. But if you haven't actually read this original version then it is well worth doing so, if you can cope with the beautiful classic writing style.

The main reason I wanted to do this review was to let you know just how nice this book is physically.
The format is a Flexibound Edition by Barnes & Noble. It's basically a faux leather-bound cover. Obviously not real leather, it is a soft feel plastic or rubber which is marginally flexible in the hand.
The first and last pages are backed in the old-world style using frantically patterned end papers.
The page edges are colour sprayed to complement the cover.
There is also a page marking ribbon.
Even the relatively thick paper stock has slightly off white colouring and lends itself to the feel of an old original collectable.

In short, for the incredibly low retail price of this book you get an absolutely stunning edition, which looks fantastic on the shelf in a collected set and feels great in the hand as you read. Barnes and Noble do a nice collection in this format. Just search for (Barnes Noble Flexibound editions) on Amazon

16 people found this helpful

Cribs

A picture that I enjoyed viewing...mostly

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 February 2018

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It took me a long time to get round to this one but it is a classic after all and considered one of the most eloquent Victorian novels ever to be published, so I thought I better at least give it a chance.

Overall, I’m glad I did.

I’d actually give it a 3.5, its positives far outweigh its negatives. An example of which would be the unnecessarily detailed manner in which Wilde describes the interests that Dorian submerges himself in whilst existing in his years of hedonistic vanity. I agree some content on this was needed, I just didn’t like the overtly flowery essay type style that Wilde employed. This of course is his style but it just went on too long for me, it was information that essentially distracted from the main plot and became uninteresting. It came across like Wilde merely wanted to show off about how much he knew about everything artistic. As I write that I realise it was actually quite informative of the way wealthy intellectuals perhaps filled their time but regardless it felt misplaced to me.

Also, some of the character exchanges seemed very unrealistic. Particularly Henry’s dialogue with the duchess, a seemingly unending stream of snappy but artificial one liners. Poetic and lyrical perhaps but no one converses like that for as long as they did.

That being said, I liked much of the other character exchanges. The ones between the male characters, and perhaps this speaks volumes about Wilde’s world view of women in general. I think he may have found women a frightening enigma and this is reflected in not only the dialogue with the female characters but also the way in which Lord Henry philosophises over the value of the female intellect.

Some may find the overtly homoerotic (not so subtle) undertones a bit much. But I could see this was just Wilde injecting his own private thoughts into his characters and that is when a story is best. It was a time when such things were unacceptable to say let alone publish so this to me didn’t detract from the main plot or what his characters were essentially going through.

When this novel was at its best was when it was dealing with the main themes of vanity and the perceivable worth of youth. The story is generally superb if somewhat abrupt at it’s climax and Wilde’s mastery of the english language is for the most part a wonder to behold.

Tempted to go to 4 stars, but just couldn’t forgive the large chunk in the middle that was just Wilde peacocking and unashamedly parading his high intellect and knowledge. Still, a great novel.

22 people found this helpful

Emily Weatherburn

Incredible!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2018

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The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fantastic book. It’s not all that long, and is the only novelised evidence of Wilde’s literary talent. Personally, it took me two days to read, and I enjoyed pretty much every moment of it. There are times when Wilde spends a little too much time describing ancient kings and philosophers of the past, but these don’t need to be read in too much detail. Probably its finest moments are its beginning, as Dorian realises the importance of youth, and its end.

This is a book that will really make you think. Its characters are so boldly imprinted on its pages that they are easy to picture; this is particularly true of the infamous Lord Henry, who slowly manipulates Dorian over the course of the novel. It raises a lot of questions, but rarely answers them. In my opinion, this is much preferable to having all your questions answered: it leaves a sense of mystery that hangs over The Picture of Dorian Gray and turns it into a fascinating read.

17 people found this helpful

Ashok Krishna

Temptation, Manipulation & Corruption

Reviewed in India on 4 May 2017

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TEMPTATION!

From the moment the unfortunate Eve bit into the forbidden apple, to these current days, when we lesser-mortals are lured by the overpriced electronic 'Apples', Temptation has been shadowing us humans. A baneful prelude to our vices, very few amongst us can claim to have overcome temptation. While we are protected by various constraints that help us overcome our temptations - social stigma, fear of gods, fear of law and so on - once in a while even the most saintly amongst us 'blinks' and lets temptation cause mayhem.

The corrupt lot never lets any constraints stop them, while the Holiest few never let temptations taint them. It is the ordinary beings in the middle that suffer the most at the hands of Temptation. Pulled by the pleasures on one side, barred from it by principles and penal codes on the other, this middle lot bears the onslaught of temptation grudgingly. How often have we craved to indulge in the vices to which we are lead – sometimes by becoming invisible, some other times by transforming ourselves into someone or something else! We have all wanted to relish the baser pleasures of life, without letting their effects stain our souls. This book then is the expression of such a desire on the part of Oscar Wilde.

Yes. This is a book on temptation, manipulation and eventual corruption. Except that here the protagonist - or, is it the antagonist?! - is never tainted by his sins. The corruption of his soul is borne by his portrait instead of its carnal sheath.

Dorian Gray is a charming young boy knocking on the doors of adulthood. Lord Henry is a wealthy, hedonistic idler whose only purpose in life is to seek pleasure and pleasurable sensations. Basil Hallward is a simple, righteous persona and a talented painter that 'adores' Dorian. A chance meeting of all these three - on the fateful day Basil puts his heart and soul into painting Dorian – designs the rest of the tale. Lord Henry 'teaches' innocent Dorian to take pride in his own physical beauty, which is temporary and urges him to indulge in the pleasures suited to his age. Manipulated by Henry thus, Dorian becomes aware of the flush of youth in his veins, as truthfully depicted by Basil in the portrait, but is also dejected at the prospect of growing old and haggard someday. In one god-forsaken moment, he loudly wishes that he would even exchange his soul to stay as beautiful as he is and let that wonderful portrait feel the passage of Time.

Starting with the simple pleasures of life, Dorian once commits a serious injustice to the girl he falls in love with. Back at home, Dorian finds his portrait slightly changed to show signs of cruelty amidst all that boyish charm. Dorian realizes that his ‘wish’ has come true and all the sins of his soul will leave their stains on the portrait instead of his face or his youth. But just as he repents and tries to make amends for his grave error, Lord Henry, a mentor as vile as there could ever be, sets him again on the wicked ways. Tempted also by a book lent by Henry, and untouched by the effects of his ‘sins’, Dorian falls deep into the pits of life, all the while watching the portrait turn from ugly to ghastly with each ‘sin’ that he commits. Was Dorian able to mend his ways? Did he ever get to redeem his soul? This book is a tale that answers those questions.

Oscar Wilde wrote this novel – his only one – while English society was reeling at the height of Victorian morality. Being a homosexual himself, Wilde was condemned, ostracized and left to die in penurious exile. It is quite an irony then that a book which brought its author all the infamy must be one of the best-selling books of our ‘modern’ times.

Going through the book, I couldn’t help wondering whether Dorian Gray and Lord Henry were Wilde’s alter-egos. Remember, we writers have a knack of lending a part of our soul to the characters that we lovingly create. The sense of importance lent to the statements of Henry, the weakness with which the other characters contradict him and finally end up agreeing with him, the hold that this hedonistic idler wields on the whole tale are all evidence enough that Henry, more than even Gray, is the alter-ego of Oscar Wilde. Basil, the moral person that he is, sounds feebly like the other part of Wilde that regrets his ‘mistakes’.

Not just for the author, but for us the readers too, this book holds a mirror. While stating the moral decadence that Dorian falls into, Wilde does not elaborate on the kind of sins Dorian takes pleasure committing. In that sense this feels akin to Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde’. There also, the protagonist leads a double life, being a noble gentleman as Dr.Jekyll while lurking in the darkness as Mr.Hyde sating his gore hungers. But what kind of immoral activities that Mr.Hyde indulges in is never articulated, leaving it to our guess. Here also, Dorian’s one sin is to indulge in narcotics, but the rest of the decadences are left unsaid, like a blank canvas on which we can paint the nature of those sins. Both these books are similar in letting us decide on the level of moral corruption, thus bringing out the inner demons that we have all been hiding inside us too.

The literary fluency of Wilde, his ability to portray in words the England of the late 19th century - from flora to the banal - do all make it a pleasure to read this book. But, I couldn’t help noticing his egoistic English self, like most of the British of his days, which made him think of India as the land of snake-charmers – at least in the fleeting reference.

A psychological thriller that stemmed from the unreliable ‘art’ of physiognomy, this book is a forbidden apple that we must all bite into!

72 people found this helpful

M. Dowden

Always Worth Reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 October 2016

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I have read this story countless times, seen two film versions and even a stage play, but like many other people this story has stayed with me long after I have closed the book, and I thus come back to it again and again. This is the only novel by Oscar Wilde and if you follow the publication history of this you will see why that probably is. What Wilde wrote was originally censored for its publication in a magazine, and then Wilde re-wrote and extended the tale for its final book publication, which is what we are presented with here. Originally when this story first appeared in ‘Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine’ it caused a bit of an outrage and the story was also used against Wilde when he was prosecuted.

Nowadays though, with all the things we are presented with in the media and what we see on the internet some will consider this very tame. Although arguably it has never been what is mentioned in the tale, it is what is hinted at and how good your imagination can be.

I expect most people who decide to read this will already be quite familiar with the tale and so know the main plot. Dorian Gray of the title is soon to come into money, is a bit vain, relatively kind hearted and means well, and very handsome, and then he meets Basil Hallward, an artist, who wishes to do his portrait. So far not much to write home about, although Basil obviously makes Dorian vainer, and there are definite tones of amorousness between the two, and then he meets Basil’s friend Lord Henry. As a friendship develops between Dorian and Lord Henry, Dorian is led into a more hedonistic lifestyle. What Dorian doesn’t realise though is that he has unwittingly entered into a Devilish Pact caused by the portrait of him. As Dorian’s life becomes more lurid, perverted and diabolical he never seems to age, but his portrait becomes something truly terrible to behold.

One of the reasons this works so well is that apart from a few details and some undertones of promiscuity between males and females we never really know what Dorian’s actual actions are. We know that to become involved with him can leave you tainted, but we have to use our imaginations to create what we think he gets up to. Another reason why this works and is still very popular today is due to the fact that it plays upon our vanities. With cosmetic surgery, Botox and numerous unguents that are supposed to make us stay looking young on the market, it would seem that many of us are afraid of getting a wrinkle or blemish. Indeed whilst this remains so then there is no reason to suppose this book will fall by the wayside. And on top of that this story is a really good read with some scintillating dialogue between the characters.

19 people found this helpful

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