Book #38 – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Let’s bring out another Gothic tale of horror, shall we? I have a confession to make. In my Senior year of high school, we did a “Meet the Authors” project where everyone selected an author and became them for a day. I chose Oscar Wilde, and while I spent the better part of a month trying to hone in on a reasonable Dublin accent, I neglected to read any of his actual works. I was pretty detailed about the biography, and chose to represent Wilde during his tour of the Americas, waving around a fake sunflower and preaching about aesthetics. I don’t think I pulled off dandy very well, to be honest.

The Picture of Dorian Gray caused a bit of a stir after its revised edition was published in 1890. Yes, even after the editor removed some 500 words from the novel without telling Wilde, the public found their morals soiled. I can only imagine what the general public of Victorian era England would say about some of the novels coming out today. In any case, the Picture of Dorian Gray now has two main versions, the 1890 revised edition, and the 1891 full edition. I read the full editions, marked by its having 20 chapters, and yes, once again The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen lied to me. It’s no wonder Sean Connery refused to act ever again after that movie.