Dorian Gray - no. 37

Hamlyn 1983 (complete works)

Price: £1.50

History: got this at the Charity Shop in town. According to stamps inside the book, this used to belong to our local library's School service. Dating complete works is fairly easy, at least approximately, because the complete text of De Profundus was not allowed to be published till after 1960.

Look: I think it is the Victoriana that has given me a suspicion towards books with yellow covers. This is yellow, and it's got one of the Aubrey Beardsley drawings on the front, coupled with a quote about immoral books. It's certainly trying to capitalise on a certain aspect of Oscar Wilde's appeal. The text is very small...but other than that, a lovely copy. under the dustjacket it is peach, which is interesting but not necessarily wrong.

Introduction/appendices: three pages, not very interesting.

Captured: 18-12-2008

Dorian Gray - no. 35

Penguin Classics - 2008 hardback edition

Price:£8 (it was £4 off)

History: So, on the way out from that extravagant luxury purchase...I kinda saw another one. Because it was gorgeous, and because it was reduced. And exclusive to Waterstones.

Look: Nice, chunky hardback, which I especially admire for the black/white colour scheme and the old fashioned style. What I really want is a good facimile of the original, but this will do for now. The actual style of the text is also identical to the paperback Penguin Classics, which was the first edition I ever read.

Introduction/appendices: the Penguin Classics default by Robert Mighall. I've read it before - and so have I the notes at the back, and the selection of reviews. Its identical to some of my other Penguins. It has a thin, white bookmark.

Caught: 12-12-2008