The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition)
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This carefully crafted ebook: “The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition)” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents.
The Picture of Dorian Gray, the only novel by Oscar Wilde, was first published in 1890. A substantially revised and expanded edition was published in April 1891. For the new edition, Wilde revised the content of the novel’s existing chapters, divided the final chapter into two chapters, and created six entirely new additional chapters. Whereas the original edition of the novel contains 13 chapters, the revised edition of the novel contains 20 chapters. The 1891 version was expanded from 13 to 20 chapters, but also toned down, particularly in some of its overt homoerotic aspects. Also, chapters 3, 5, and 15 to 18 are entirely new in the 1891 version, and chapter 13 from the first edition is split in two (becoming chapters 19 and 20).
The novel tells of a young man named Dorian Gray, the subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Dorian is selected for his remarkable physical beauty, and Basil becomes strongly infatuated with Dorian, believing that his beauty is responsible for a new mode of art. The Picture of Dorian Gray is considered one of the last works of classic gothic horror fiction with a strong Faustian theme. It deals with the artistic movement of the decadents, and homosexuality, both of which caused some controversy when the book was first published. However, in modern times, the book has been referred to as “one of the modern classics of Western literature”.
Oscar Wills Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Today he is remembered for his epigrams, his only novel (The Picture of Dorian Gray), his plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death.
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Additional information
| Publisher | e-artnow, 1st edition (25 Oct. 2013) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 739 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 145 pages |
by Bluecashmere.
This is Wilde’s only novel and although now unlikely to provoke the moral outrage that greeted its publication at the end of the nineteenth century, is still a gripping read with much of importance to say. Wilde knew well enough the reception that awaited the book, and even after excisions and amendments, some authorised by the author and some inserted without his knowledge, he was not to be disappointed. Hence the preface, which in itself is one of the seminal attacks on literary censorship. It is here that we find his memorable words: ‘There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all.’ The book picks up directly Wilde’s aestheticism, his belief that art has no purpose, but beauty and excellence.
In short this is a Faustian story, only here Dorian Gray sells his soul not to the devil but to the witty and hedonistic Harry – Lord Henry Wotton. In addition, he exchanges his soul not for knowledge but eternal youth and beauty. The novel opens and ends with Basil Hallwood’s strikingly beautiful painting of Gray. The novel draws heavily on the gothic, the style often deliberately baroque, but the tone swinging between the hilariously funny and the darkly tragic, albeit self-consciously melodramatic. It is best for the reader to get caught up in the often-grotesque details of Dorian’s progress, his extreme swings of mood and his ultimate fate.
This is a most pleasing copy, which will make an excellent gift.
by Kindle Customer
Really enjoyed this story but found it a bit disjointed at times because I had to look up the meanings of so many words. I obviously need to extend my vocabulary!
by Rob Ash
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
by Jen
The story itself is brilliant, but the printed book is really naff. It’s huge, and looks like a large notepad, which I should have expected since the dimensions are in the description, but the quality is really not good. The pages are thin and low quality, the margins are so close to the spine that it’s really challenging to read, and it’s laid out really poorly. Such a shame as I love the story!
by Paul Anthony mills
A wonderfully written novel, by one of the greats. A study of narcissism & society, that is still relevant today.
by m
book came in great condition however there was one issue. the pages were slightly waved when i first received it. of course i was disappointed however a couple weeks of pressure on the book and the waves are mostly gone. also the print on the cloth was slightly faded but other than that all great
by Belle
I loved reading this book!
The characters were so nuanced, and they werent the most likable characters, but that’s what I loved about it!
However, the book had seen better days as it was a bit damaged at the top, but I wasn’t that bothered, as it gave it a lived-in look.
Overall, I just loved this book, Oscar Wilde is amazing.
by Sam Rogers
10/10 book must read