The Picture of Dorian Gray
Registered by concertina8 on 1/3/2005
6 journalers for this copy...
Amazon.co.uk
A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."
As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment."
A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife", Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."
As Hallward tries to make sense of his creation, his epigram-happy friend Lord Henry Wotton encourages Dorian in his sensual quest with any number of Wildean paradoxes, including the delightful "When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy." But despite its many languorous pleasures, The Picture of Dorian Gray is an imperfect work. Compared to the two (voyeuristic) older men, Dorian is a bore, and his search for ever new sensations far less fun than the novel's drawing-room discussions. Even more oddly, the moral message of the novel contradicts many of Wilde's supposed aims, not least "no artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style." Nonetheless, the glamour boy gets his just deserts. And Wilde, defending Dorian Gray, had it both ways: "All excess, as well as all renunciation, brings its own punishment."
Journal Entry 2 by concertina8 at Gasthaus Weidinger in Wien Bezirk 04 - Wieden, Wien Austria on Friday, June 10, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/10/2005 UTC) at Gasthaus Weidinger in Wien Bezirk 04 - Wieden, Wien Austria
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
will be released at tonight's meetup
will be released at tonight's meetup
Journal Entry 3 by 5Schwammerl from Wien Bezirk 22 - Donaustadt, Wien Austria on Saturday, June 18, 2005
I picked up this book by the last vienna meeting and reserve it for the winner from the OBCZ INT'L SWEEPSTAKES II startet by CanPou.
The book goes to.....?
The book goes to.....?
Journal Entry 4 by 5Schwammerl at Empire Insurance II, 4393 N. University Drive in Sunrise, Florida USA on Saturday, June 18, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/14/2005 UTC) at Empire Insurance II, 4393 N. University Drive in Sunrise, Florida USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
...OBCZ-EmpireIns2 Sunrise Florida!
Congratulations for winning the OBCZ INT'L SWEEPSTAKES II startet by CanPou!
I wish you many books and a nice time by reading and by the releas in your OBCZ!
...OBCZ-EmpireIns2 Sunrise Florida!
Congratulations for winning the OBCZ INT'L SWEEPSTAKES II startet by CanPou!
I wish you many books and a nice time by reading and by the releas in your OBCZ!
We won!We won!
Thank you to everyone who sent books.
Journal Entry 6 by BabyBoosterJ at Empire Insurance II, 4393 N. University Drive in Sunrise, Florida USA on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/21/2005 UTC) at Empire Insurance II, 4393 N. University Drive in Sunrise, Florida USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Picked up from my OBCZ for the Classics Bookbox.
I have my own (well-read) copy of this book, and was thrilled to find one I could use for the box.
I have my own (well-read) copy of this book, and was thrilled to find one I could use for the box.
Journal Entry 8 by JillyEnFuego at Classics Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 20, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (1/20/2006 UTC) at Classics Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
The Classics Bookbox is on the move again!
The Classics Bookbox is on the move again!
The Classics Bookbox has made it to Phoenix! I had coffee with tabby-cat-owner (the originator of this box) and she picked a few books out. I offered to find new, happy homes for what was left.
Got this from jenvince. Plan to read and release.
CAUGHT IN PEORIA ARIZONA USA
CAUGHT IN PEORIA ARIZONA USA
