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The Picture of Dorian Gray

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The Picture of Dorian Gray

By: Oscar Wilde
Narrated by: Russell Tovey
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About this listen

Exclusively from Audible

The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in 1890 in the July edition of the Lippincott Magazine. Now, this special anniversary edition marks 50 years since the 1967 Sexual Offences Act was passed in England. 25p from every copy downloaded over the next 12 months will be donated to Stonewall, Britain’s leading LGBT charity, to help the organisation further its work in securing full equality for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people everywhere.

A damning portrayal of Victorian society, Wilde used his narrative to chastise his contemporaries for their superfluous and hypocritical values. Having also interspersed homoerotic scenes within the story, The Picture of Dorian Gray was unsurprisingly condemned for its 'indecency', forcing Wilde to publish a second, censored edition in 1891. Wilde defended his vision to the last, whilst simultaneously challenging assumptions about his private life and sexuality. He credited his inspiration for the text to the classic Faustian suggestion that given the chance, a man would undoubtedly sell his soul in exchange for eternal youth.

When the protagonist, Dorian Gray, meets with the audacious Lord Henry Wotton, he is encouraged to indulge in his most vain and hedonistic of ambitions, thereby testing the boundaries of the law and living a life of unpunished anarchy. As handsome as he is charming, Dorian beguiles those around him, in particular, the artist Basil Hallward. Hopelessly enamoured by the young socialite, Basil sets out to capture his likeness in a full-length portrait. It is the finished product which ultimately engenders Dorian the ultimate weapon; control over the passing of time.

Modern audiences now recognise The Picture of Dorian Gray as an enticing gothic masterpiece and highly astute cautionary tale. Experience the unique and fractured world created by Oscar Wilde in this new audiobook adaptation, made in collaboration with Stonewall and narrated by award-winning actor, Russell Tovey.

Narrator Biography

Russell Tovey is a TV, film and stage actor, known for The History Boys, Grabbers, Angels in America, The Night Manager, Pride, Quantico and The Pass. He has narrated many audiobooks throughout his career including, Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and Mark Michalowski's Being Human.

In collaboration with Stonewall, who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, Tovey brings us this new adaption of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Having starred in The Old Vic's production of Queers and The National Theatre's Angels in America, Russell is a keen advocate of LGBT rights and, bringing years of stage training experience, the perfect narrator for this epic tale of masculine beauty.

Public Domain (P)2017 Audible, Ltd
Classics Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Fiction Scary Fantasy
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What listeners say about The Picture of Dorian Gray

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philosophical thriller

An excellent performance of a well written philosophical thriller. it drove me into deep self reflection, very captivating

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A real treat!

Russell Tovey doesn’t read Wilde’s gothic masterpiece so much as perform it, with all the characters brought to life. The result is compulsive - rather like an evening at the theatre - and I think the author would have been proud. If you like Oscar Wilde’s work and gothic stories you’ll love this. A real treat!

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Brilliant writing

Wow
Where to start exceptional narration of a haunting tale. A warning to all those leading a consumer lifestyle to the extreme!

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Perfect

An utterly wonderful story narrated perfectly. I can’t fault it at in any way at all

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A wonderful classic…

Really enjoyed the narration of this story. Excellent voices to decipher characters. My first Oscar Wilde..

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A masterpiece ♥️

I adored this book so much and it lived up to every expectation. It was so beautiful and poetic🦋✨ Russell Tovey narrated it so well and did the voices so matched it have so many extra dimensions to the characters which I wouldn’t of got if I’d read it myself. Couldn’t recommend it more 🥰

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Enjoyed a lot

A beautiful story very well read. Would like to listen to it again some day.

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Marvellous

Loved listening to this rather than reading, such a great classic and bought to life marvellously!

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Oscar Wilde and Russell Tovey

Wilde is a literary genius. Tovey is a master performer. You put them together and it's all you could ever hope for.

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Dorian GRAY

wasn't sure if I had read this before as bits were strangely familiar but I think I'd seen a film of it in my youth - uncomfortable reading but good imagery

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