THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

The portrait in the title ages, revealing the hardness and cruelty of a dissolute life, while its subject remains forever young and handsome. This is the premise of Oscar Wilde’s only novel, a cautionary tale enlivened by vivid characterizations and mordant wit. Rupert Graves brilliantly makes the most of the former, but not the latter. Instead, he throws all his efforts into the darker atmospheres, suspense and drama. The repartee of Lord Henry, Dorian’s rakish mentor, chills rather than scintillates, as Graves pointedly brings home its immorality. The consequence of this approach is a less urbane, less subtle fictive world than Wilde’s interpreters usually give us. Hence, this version is particularly suitable to young listeners, who would probably not find Lord Henry particularly amusing anyway. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JAN 98]