Graphics Classics: Oscar Wilde
Web: http://www.graphicclassics.com
Oscar
Wilde is considered one of the greats of modern literature, his wit, humour and
style were of such proportions that it is difficult to know whether his life
reflected his art or vice versa. Even when his life took devastating turns, due
to prejudice and bigotry, he still managed to sustain a sense of wit and
humour, even the transcripts of his court case are an amusing read !
At
times however Wilde’s life seems to overshadow his work, many are well aware of
his personal tastes and struggles and yet today few have actually sat down and
read his works. This is quite a shame because Wilde is quite an amazing author
and whether you start with his one line witticisms, poetry, plays or stories
you will be challenged, entertained and amused.
I
always admire Graphic Classics as they bring significant fiction and present it
in the form of comics and illustration for modern readers from teens to
adult. Each volume features the works of
the world's greatest authors, using various illustrators and different graphic
styles to communicate to the contemporary reader. They are superbly presented
with beautiful covers and with a diverse range of tales and stories.
In
this especially impressive volume there is a superb selection of Wilde’s work
from an excerpt from the melancholic Ballad of Reading Gaol to some of Wilde’s
key witticisms. The bulk of the book is focused on four tales, each superbly
adapted and nicely illustrated.
We
are first treated to the quintessential gothic tale of The Picture of Dorian
Grey. A story of narcissism and obsession which has triggered countless
literary and cinematic adaptations. This is followed by the wickedly funny gothic
satire The Canterville Ghost and then Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime, a darkly
humorous look at high society and its hypocrisy and the book is completed by
Wilde’s outrageous take on the Biblical story of Salome.
Graphic
Classics: Oscar Wilde offers a diverse selection of Wilde’s different styles
from horror to satire, dark humour to the uniquely one-off work of Salome. It
is always hard to know what to chose to include in a selection of Wilde’s work,
this is a nice balance with two very major works (Dorian Grey and Salome) and a
couple of his more satirical and humorous tales.
This
is some 140 pages in length and offers very comprehensive coverage of each
tale. It is a joyful celebration of everything Wilde !
This review will appear in Volume 2:1
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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