50. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. 184 pages. +

I'm at a loss as to how to actually review The Picture of Dorian Gray. When pressed to name a favorite novel, I usually give Wilde's work in response; I enjoy it enough that I gave my son the middle name of "Dorian." I admire the wit and charm, and take great delight in the gothic elements. But to me the story is much more than just Dorian and his plight - it is the story of aestheticism, of 19th-century English culture, of the evolution of art, satire, and human relationships.

One of the things I have asked my students to focus on for our reading of the novel is something Wilde himself said about the book in a letter dated February of 1894: "I am so glad you like the strange coloured book of mine: it contains much of me in it. Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be - in other ages perhaps" (Gillespie ix). In truth, I believe this statement not only speaks to the creation of the principle characters (and throws an interesting light on the events of the novel), but speaks to the complexity of the ideas themselves.

My students are nearly as enthusiastic about the novel as I am, but it's such a joy to discuss in the classroom.