The Picture of Dorian Gray

I think that many comedians are one of two types. One type tells a joke that has you laughing at the end of a story or punch line. The other type has you constantly laughing after almost every sentence. While the Picture of Dorian Gray is not a particularly humorous book one of the characters, Lord Henry, is a master of the one-liner. Almost everything out of his mouth is a hilarious one-liner fraught with cynical humor. But again, while TPoDG is perhaps not meant to be funny it general, it is one of this books attributes, an attribute that I did not always consider a virtue. Eventually, Lord Henry’s cynicism wore thin.

Having received enough reviews overtime about the storyline makes a retelling this century old classic unnecessary. I will say that I enjoyed this particular reading by another master, Simon Vance. Mr Vance brings Dorian and Harry (Lord Henry) completely to life. The brilliant wit, sarcasm and writing is wonderfully narrated. So here are some of Harry’s more memorable one-liners and hopefully, a real flavor for this classic:

“You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.”

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.”

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

“To define is to limit.”

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”

“I hate vulgar realism in literature. The man who would call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one.”

“Women, as some witty Frenchman once put it, inspire us with the desire to do masterpieces and always prevent us from carrying them out.”

“Being natural is simply a pose, and the most irritating pose I know.”

“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.”

“I can stand brute force, but brute reason is quite unbearable. There is something unfair about its use. It is hitting below the intellect.”

“Life is a question of nerves, and fibers, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams. You may fancy yourself safe and think yourself strong. But a chance tone of color in a room or a morning sky, a particular perfume that you had once loved and that brings subtle memories with it, a line from a forgotten poem that you had come across again, a cadence from a piece of music that you had ceased to play... I tell you, that it is on things like these that our lives depend. ”

I'd definitely recommend this book and this particular rendition.

What an exhilarating book! The characters are rich and the writing is brilliantly witty and beautiful. Oscar Wilde's exploration of the depths of human depravity is genius. There are so many timelessly provocative themes running through this work - the fleetingness of youth, the superficiality of beauty, the power of the ego, the insidious danger of vanity, the importance of accountability and conscience. Lord Henry's aphorisms are as astute as they are irreverent. Be careful what you wish for!

I would read anything by Simon Vance, he is a delight to listen. The book was good but is not for everyone. If you enjoy descriptions, dark humor and some philosophy you will like this book.

I must first admit to have enjoyed Wilde since high school, many years ago. His wit and sarcastic view of people is refreshing. It is amazing how differently his work seems after three decades. Be prepared to have this book haunt you for a while.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a timeless classic. Being written in 1891 I thought it was going to be dry and uninteresting but its suprisingly good with fasinating characters, situations, and an olde world charm that I found very pleasing.
The narrator was superb and kept the story paced well and felt the emotions.

The book is very good, if a challenging listen at times. I anticipated the twists & turns of the story, but I didn't care because I was enjoying the gothicness of it all. Simon Vance does an excellent read.

What more can be said about Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray"? Fascinating, mysterious, gripping, and witty. Simon Vance's narration captures every nuance of the language, story, and dialogue.

I couldn't put this book down once I got past the initial preening of Dorian. I love that it is so representative of the period but also has the mysterious quality of a "Twilight Zone" situation. Great musings on how our soul is affected by what we read and who we keep as company. I think this is a must read for those who like British lit.

If they wanted something classic and lovely, sure. The movie didn't really give it much justice.

Well, I guess Dorian. I can't blame him for doing all he did. It just sucks how things ended up.

Oh definitely. Old books are hard for me to read because it doesn't flow right in my brain. But having it read to me, I listened and played attention and got so much more out of the story that if I had read it myself.

If anything, it made me miss college.

I'm pretty sure I only liked this because I learned about it in class. That's probably why I didn't care for the Great Gatsby.

My little sister who never got into reading actively started a discussion about this book when she was reading it in school, for which I'm grateful. An interesting novella, especially when paired with The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As both struggle with the inner vs the outer person. Though very different takes on it.

Dorian Grey is a young beautiful man who poses for a painting. When it is finished he wishes that the he will always stay that beautiful and that the painting would take all the marks of his living. This comes to pass, but the consequences spiral out of control. The painting becomes a reflection of Dorian's very soul baring the stains of his sins.

I can't say anymore without giving things away, so listen to it.