Oscar Wilde

March 1, 2009
Grades 10-1 This comic anthologyof adaptations of Oscar Wildes writings gives readers an overview of the darkness and humor that were both a part of Wildes writing, though the effectiveness of the adaptations varies. All the stories are slow to start, but The Canterville Ghost and Lord Arthur Saviles Crime overcome this and end strongly. The Picture of Dorian Gray reads as if necessary text had been edited out, weakening it irreparably, and Salome is incomprehensible to readers without in-depth knowledge of the biblical story of John the Baptist, though its creepy title character will send shivers down readers backs. The varied illustrators have unique enough visionsto expose readers to new artbut arentso avant-garde as to be inaccessible. This collection from the Graphic Classics series will never be a first choice for browsers, but teachers and school librarians could easily use it as a nice companion to the study of Wildes works.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)