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  • The Picture of Dorian Gray

  • Written by: Oscar Wilde
  • Narrated by: Russell Tovey
  • Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (412 ratings)

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The Picture of Dorian Gray

Written by: Oscar Wilde
Narrated by: Russell Tovey
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Publisher's Summary

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

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What listeners say about The Picture of Dorian Gray

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable 👍

Loved it, the narrator was excellent in acting out all the characters. very philosophical and I found myself rewinding quite often, just to pause and think.
very enjoyable..

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • MK
  • 2022-12-25

Excellent listen

It’s good to read as in audible the performance of lord Henry isn’t as good as it should have been.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow. Great book.

I have hit the age where i feel i need to read some of the classics.
So i started to read this book but i am a slow reader.
So i thought id try the audio version.
It was wonderful, the narrator really made me feel like i was hearing it the way it was meant to be read.
What a great story!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Joe
  • 2019-12-28

Russell Tovey vocal mesmerizer

I've had the pleasure to listen to one of the best suited voice actors do an amazing performance of Dorian Gray. I was enthralled with toveys ups and downs, his t's and his q's. Every character had a unique voice which I had to listen to very closely to tell it was still trovey.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The masterpiece from nowhere

It is unusual to see such a beauty story for nowadays. However, the times are not changed. Passions are still in place of our hearts.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I first read this book approximately 35-ish years ago. It was time for a re-visit! This time it was via audiobook included in my Audible subscription. The narration was great. Frugality and nostalgia... what a way to begin 2024.

The story was as great as I first remembered it as a young teenager. We have Dorian Gray, a young man with little experience in the world. The painter, Basil, who paints such a beautiful portrait of young, gorgeous Dorian that Dorian wishes hard that his real appearance and physical being could remain as perfect as the original painting, while the painting takes on the hardship and degeneration that would normally occur with age. Then we have Henry, the jerk who nurtures Dorian's selfishness and narcissism over time.

The story is excellent, full of wit and sharp observations about society and its values. It's as good as I remember it and a classic because the message transcends class, race, religion and time. Poor Dorian. Be careful what you wish for!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

That did not age well

Sexist, misogynistic, the story did not age well at all. Great performance by Tovry though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I highly recommend this.

I have decided to revisit the classics and like audiobooks as I can walk and listen. This version of the penultimate parable of the human condition and how we are the enemy of our best selves is wonderful. Russell Tovey moved us along, offering audio sketches of the various characters that were just right and did not interrupt the story with verbal pyrotechnics and mangled accents, as can sometimes happen. Especially with period pieces. The story is a contemporary one in that it applies to todays societies as well as those od the 1800s. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic

The incredible narration wrote the story to life. Hearing the well-known tale, so well told made it splendid

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • A
  • 2023-06-30

Incredible narration!

Great story. Obviously a classic. But the delivery really brings it to life. Glad I found this version to hear this tale for the first time.

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