Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
The Picture of Dorian Gray
- Narrated by: Russell Tovey
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Buy Now for £13.00
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
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.
What listeners say about The Picture of Dorian Gray
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-05-20
philosophical thriller
An excellent performance of a well written philosophical thriller. it drove me into deep self reflection, very captivating
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cat's Mother
- 28-10-21
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- s.williams
- 18-01-23
A wonderful classic…
Really enjoyed the narration of this story. Excellent voices to decipher characters. My first Oscar Wilde..
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- taheya
- 09-04-23
Brilliant writing
Wow
Where to start exceptional narration of a haunting tale. A warning to all those leading a consumer lifestyle to the extreme!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karl Osborn
- 06-03-23
Perfect
An utterly wonderful story narrated perfectly. I can’t fault it at in any way at all
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- guernseygirl13
- 09-05-23
Marvellous
Loved listening to this rather than reading, such a great classic and bought to life marvellously!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-08-23
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 🥰
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous
- 02-09-23
Enjoyed a lot
A beautiful story very well read. Would like to listen to it again some day.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Leks Drakos
- 16-02-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-08-20
A classic hindered by flat performance
Stunningly beautiful and still relevant classic with no sign of ageing pardon the pun. However, Russell Tobey is woefully lacking in bringing any characters to life. Caricature work that wouldn’t look out of place in a Carry On film.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful