Dorian Gray - no. 44

Barnes and Noble Classics (2003)

Price: a gift from Friend 2; back indicates it was $4.95

History: Friend 2 returned from America with three rather lovely presents for me. This is my favourite of the three.

Look: I've ogled this one on the web before, but I've always felt that ordering them over the internet is a very slippery slope. I've always hated collectors to whom completeness is more important than the things themselves, and the chase is part of the fun. A lovely red cover, and a very intriguing painting. I don't technically like young men on the covers of these books, but this is one of my many exceptions. The painting has such a strange expression - I love how wooden he seems.

Introductions/appendices: Lovely! A two page biography, a four page timeline, and a lovely lengthy introduction. No time to discuss it now, but I remember enjoying it.

But it's after the endnotes that get interesting. "Inspired by" lists other media inspired by Oscar Wilde's life, Dorian Gray films and operas, and sequels to the book. I enjoyed having my mind tickled by six "Questions" for a book club or school group. I particularly enjoyed "is sin ugly or beautiful?". There are some comments on the novel from Wilde himself, Alfred Douglas and James Joyce. And a tasty further reading section.

This copy is notable for providing me with a formidable to-devour list. While not necessarily useful to the idle reader, I'm always glad for new related material!

• Lowell Liebermann's Dorian Gray opera. I hope there is a recording...
• The 1997 Dorian sequel in which our hero becomes a master of the dark arts. I unexpectedly enjoyed Will Self's updated take, so am willing to take a chance at Jeremy Reed's.
• Two possible precursours to Dorian:
  
• Ashes of the Future (A Study of Mere Human Nature): The Suicide of Sylvester Gray. Fantastically awful title, proving frustratingly obscure to find.
• Vivian Gray
Mercifully, is on Project Gutenburg. Looking forward to reading this!

Captured: ?-8-10

Dorian Gray - no. 41

Broadview Literary Texts

Price: £4.99, technically, but it was a gift

History: I remain endebted to my friends and family for my awesome, and growing, collection. Friend 4 bought this for herself in the first weeks of university because she forgot her own copy, and passed it on when she got home. It's a lovely beastie.

Look: I strongly approve. It's otherworldly, this book - funny colours, funny fonts, but somehow it works. The text is very small, but the pages are very soft. I like it. It is also nowhere near this red in real life, the red is less bright.

Introductions/appendices: This would be a great copy for someone who wants to read a little further than the text, without drowning in academia. There are brief footnotes throughout for the weirder references, a nice introduction, and a series of short appendices (extracts from other relevant works, some trial excerpts, something on A Rebours, and an interesting page on "langour"). If you want to do a proper uni-level essay on the novel, Number 27 is still the one to look for, but this would be perfectly servicable for GSCE/A-Level, or people who just want a little more context.

You can have a flick through this on Google Books, including a better peep at the cover.

Dorian Gray - no. 27

Norton Critical Edition, 2007

Price: $12.50

History: New York, Christmas 2007, although it's been on loan to a friend for a long time, so still has the novelty value of a new copy.

Look: it's thick and heavy (see below...), but is nice to hold and read. You can't go far wrong with a picture of the author.

Introduction/appendices: This is the grandmother of all Dorian Grays - if you want a copy to study, or get into the background, this is the one to buy. BOTH the 1891 and 1890 versions in one book, with copious notes describing the editing process. Even more notes explaining references and ideas. 7 critical essays, from "Irishness" in the novel to sexual politics and character design. Lots of contemporary reviews, and as many open letters from the author defending his book to the newspapers. Extracts from other Wilde work, A Rebours and Walter Pater, on topics which reflect the novel's themes. And a chronology.

Accordingly, this is also my "desert island" copy, provided I had pen and paper to note down my thoughts, because it's going to keep me going for ages.