Gothic Duality: The Hydden Portrait of Dorian

Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde...

Two eccentric legends in the English (the language) literature: one Irish and the other Scottish. Although my department at university is named as "English Language and Literature" (English here means the nationality of England, in Turkish), I had the chance to read both the writers' works during my education. Even my Bachelor's thesis was on Stevenson's "Treasure Island".

Oscar Wilde seems more idiosyncratic and flamboyant, yet I find both of them eccentric in their own ways. They seem to have had problematic lives too. Wilde was... not the man of his time; Stevenson had some negative health issues most of his life.

What do you think about these writers and their works mentioned here?

 

Edited by Shadowyzard - July 14 2021 at 13:19

I have not read the Picture of Dorian Grey but might need to change that.

I have previosly had some facination for the life and authership of Robert Louis Stevenson, hes desire and urge for medicine, science and sailing shaped most of hes carear and authorship, he almost singlehandedly invented the Pirate romance genre/Pirate literature, while nautical literature have existed since Odysseus (800 b.c), Gullivers Travel (1500s) and Moby Dick (1850s). Treasure Islands is very important for 1900s adventure genre.


The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have yet to have a good translation into film or serial format, its a very complex themed novella of intence imagery and many layers.

Edited by Icarium - July 15 2021 at 12:41

Both great works, but overall, regarding the authors and from a literary viewpoint, my preference goes easily to Oscar Wilde. Between these to works too, The Picture of Dorian Grey gets my vote. Both works also got some very decent film adaptations...