The Picture of Dorian Gray

By: Oscar Wilde

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Oscar Wilde brings his enormous gifts for astute social observation and sparkling prose to The Picture of Dorian Gray, the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. This dandy, who remains forever unchanged---petulant, hedonistic, vain, and amoral---while a painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years, has been horrifying and enchanting readers for more than 100 years. Taking the reader in and out of London drawing rooms, to the heights of aestheticism, and to the depths of decadence, The Picture of Dorian Gray is not simply a melodrama about moral corruption. Laced with bon mots and vivid depictions of upper-class refinement, it is also a fascinating look at the milieu of Wilde's fin-de-siècle world and a manifesto of the creed "Art for Art's Sake."The ever-quotable Wilde, who once delighted London with his scintillating plays, scandalized readers with this, his only novel. Upon publication, Dorian was condemned as dangerous, poisonous, stupid, vulgar, and immoral, and Wilde as a "driveling pedant." The novel, in fact, was used against Wilde at his much-publicized trials for "gross indecency," which led to his imprisonment and exile on the European continent. Even so, The Picture of Dorian Gray firmly established Wilde as one of the great voices of the Aesthetic movement and endures as a classic that is as timeless as its hero.

Public Domain (P)2008 Tantor

super good short story

story is about vanity as a concept, not much in the way a a complicated plot or one with any such twists. a rather easy to listen to linear book of ideology.

Brilliant Portrait of sin and Art

Simon Prebble is the perfect narrator. He does fine with the voices, but it is his wry smiling cheekiness even in the most grotesque moment that embodies the spirit of Wilde.

Beautifully told, clever and consistent.

A true classic brought to life. A must listen for all who want to feel sophisticated and a little sad.

Typical

Like most of our so-called classics, Dorian Gray features excellent language, strong writing, vivid imagery, and mediocre story. It is well-done but not very interesting and certainly not surprising.

Beautifully Damaged.

I really enjoyed this book. Lord Henry is wicked and wise all in the same breath and you don't know how to feel for Dorian Gray. I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

Oh, this narrator!

At times while listening to this novel, I was astonished to realize that only one individual was reading it. Simon Prebble creates so many distinct voices, one might think several men and women are huddling around the microphone, and they call their ensemble "Simon Prebble." Bravo.

I suppose most people dive into this book already knowing what it's about, so the narrator's talent is especially important. The plot holds few surprises, so it's the performance that delights.

I also guess that most of Audible's subscribers are familiar with Oscar Wilde, his sexual preferences, and where they landed him because of where he lived and when. He was, I think, very courageous for including so many overt references in his book to homosexuality and the tragic end suffered by the men due to shame and the fear of being outed. (Excuse my use of that modern term in reference to this book. It worked better than "exposed.")

A few of the plot developments were easy to guess in advance, but that did not lessen my enjoyment. Sir Henry's worldview is interesting and thought provoking, and he is a solid, consistent character to whom Prebble gives voice.

Painful Experience

I know this book is supposed to be a "classic" but I really did not like it. That is all.

Entertaining, enlightening, and suspenseful.

Pay careful attention to the quips, comments, and insights of Lord Henry. Akin to The Godfather and Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten; contains important life lessons.

Classic story...

For anyone who hasn't read it by now, it's a timeless tale of ego, virtue and morality.
Although the obvious anti-semitism through use of one of his characters (the stage manager) is painful and saddening. I'm an Oscar Wilde fan but I was unaware of this trait.

A cautionary tale on moral relativism?

This short, thought-provoking, and character-driven story is well-suited for the reader who enjoys pondering or discussing. Expect to be motivated much more by these than by the plot, such as it is.

Filled with epigrams simultaneously enlightening and corrupting, one could dwell endlessly on whether each contains wisdom, truth, poison, or a perplexing combination.

Very well voice acted.