Cornflower Book Group 2011: Volume 4

 

     This coming Saturday the Cornflower Book Group will be discussing the first of Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael series, A Morbid Taste for Bones, but for our April book we shall be moving far away from a 1970s depiction of twelfth century monks, going instead to late Victorian England, the aesthetic movement, and the scandalous Oscar Wilde, with his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

     "Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence."

   

    A Faustian pact, hedonism, gothic horror clad in silken draperies ... there will be lots here to interest us, I should think! I've chosen the Penguin Classics edition pictured above as it comes with two introductions - one of them by Peter Ackroyd - and contemporary reviews, but any copy you can get hold of will be fine. The novel should be widely available (though in case of difficulty, The Book Depository will send it anywhere in the world, post-free), and at just over 200 pages, it shouldn't take us very long to get through, so how about we set our discussion date for Saturday, 23rd. April.

    I say this every month, but the group is open to all who care to read the book and give us the benefit of their thoughts on it, on or after the set date. A few words will suffice, or a much longer analysis - regardless of length, your contribution will be welcome, so I hope Mr. Wilde and his Mr. Gray will not disappoint.

Comments

[B R Wombat]

And of course it's available from Project Gutenberg, for all us Kindlers.

[Cornflower]

Good point!

[Elizabeth]

I'll read this one - on my Kindle, thanks B R Wombat! I remember seeing a movie of the book which would be many years old now, the name Hurd Hatfield (actor) comes to mind, but I may be wrong. I'll ask a friend in my book club, who is an expert on all movies, old and new.

[Sandy]

Thank you, thank you BR Wombat! I had not discovered this resource.

[Anji]

It turns out that I have a copy of it sitting on my bookshelf. I have never read anything by Oscar Wilde so this should be interesting. I know I have seen the movie of the book too, years ago, I think it was a film in black and white, a Saturday morning special! I can't remember the names of any of the actors in it either.

[Delyn]

I saw the Hurd Hatfield one, too. That gives my age away!I was quite young but loved / still love the cinema, and, at a particular point in the story - I won't say where in case you haven't read it - I screamed and the lady next to me said." It's alright. It's only a film."
I saw the most recent issue with Ben Barnes and Colin Firth - didn't frighten me, though horrid, but, I'm grown up now!
Must look out my copy - a good read and I shall enjoy reading the comments.

[Nora]

Glad to be a help.

[Barbara MacLeod]

Thanks for the notification. I have checked our library on the internet and see a copy (and also other copies in other branches.) Having never read any of his work I very much look forward to reading this.

[Julie Fredericksen]

I have never read this book but always wanted to, so thanks for the push. What a great bargain at The Book Depository. I will have to use them more often.

[Cristina (Rochester Reader)]

I read this when I was in school and I remember being fascinated by it. A riveting read and an excellent choice!

[Julie Fredericksen]

I got my book yesterday so I must give kudos to The Book Depository for their great prices, free shipping and quick delivery! Since I am reading another book ("The Lake of Dreams" by Kim Edwards - marvelous!), I only read one page of "The Picture..." I can't wait to read the rest. Why have I never read O.W. before? BTW, do readers across the pond tend to mistakenly call it "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" as we do here?