Uncensored, Gay Dorian Gray Finally Published

Manuscript was altered to make it less overtly homoerotic
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 28, 2011 9:34 AM CDT
Uncensored, Gay Dorian Gray Finally Published
An autographed manuscript chapter of Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is held by a porter as it goes to auction at Sothebys in this October 29, 2004 file photo.   (Getty Images)

You’ve never read The Picture of Dorian Gray—at least not as Oscar Wilde intended it. The uncensored original manuscript is about to be published for the first time, more than 120 years after the classic’s initial release. Before the book’s original serialized publication in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in 1890, Wilde’s editor made a variety of changes to tone down its overt homoeroticism, the Telegraph explains. He also removed references to the protagonist's lovers as "mistresses," and other bits that “smacked of decadence.”

Even these changes didn’t go far enough to avoid critical outcry that the book was “vulgar” and “unclean,” and more passages were removed shortly after its publication. (See the Quote box for an example of how a section was changed). But now editor Nicholas Frankel says it’s finally time to publish the original, and “bring it out of the closet” for a 21st century audience. But critics are divided on the new volume, with some questioning whether the uncensored version will be superior to the time-tested classic. (More The Picture of Dorian Gray stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X