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A review by emeraldgarnet
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
2.0
The plot was interesting and it showed how depravity can set in when someone lets themself be easily lead.
When Wilde is focusing on characters and dialogue his style is good. However, when he describes settings and past actions his writing can become tedious. This is particularly evident when he rambles on about Dorian's attraction to fabrics and finery.
The book also has infrequent racism (antisemitism, particularly with the theatre manager [no real need to constantly call him 'the Jew', why not just call him by his name? Must we be reminded all the time that he is Jewish?], and also with the Malay people in the opium den). Whether this is merely a reflection of common beliefs of the late nineteenth century or whether it reflects badly only on Wilde is a question I do not know the answer to.
When Wilde is focusing on characters and dialogue his style is good. However, when he describes settings and past actions his writing can become tedious. This is particularly evident when he rambles on about Dorian's attraction to fabrics and finery.
The book also has infrequent racism (antisemitism, particularly with the theatre manager [no real need to constantly call him 'the Jew', why not just call him by his name? Must we be reminded all the time that he is Jewish?], and also with the Malay people in the opium den). Whether this is merely a reflection of common beliefs of the late nineteenth century or whether it reflects badly only on Wilde is a question I do not know the answer to.