The Essential Reads

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 5, narrated by Isaac Birchall

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle chapter 8 On The Great Alkali Plain by Isaac Birchall

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 4, narrated by Isaac Birchall

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 3, narrated by Isaac Birchall

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle chapter 7 Light in The Darkness, narrated by Isaac Birchall

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 2, narrated by Isaac Birchall

Dorian Gray seems to be just as handsome as the portrait showed him to be. Basil introduces Lord Henry to him, and Dorian asks Henry to say and talk to him while he stands because Basil never talks while painting. Basil warns Dorian that Henry is a bad influence, and Dorian seems very interested in this statement. Lord Henry agrees to stay and discusses his personal philosophy with Dorian, which is that "The highest of all duties is the duty that one owes to one's self." While Basil continues to work, Henry and Dorian head back into the garden where the Lord praises the boy's youth, and warns him how surely and quickly he will lose it. He urges Dorian to live life to the maximum, and to indulge all his fancies and to search for new sensations. Basil calls the men inside the house and Dorian sits for a few minutes longer while Dorian finishes the painting. When done Henry states that it is "the finest portrait of modern times;" Dorian looks very unhappy at the portrait. Remembering what Lord Henry told him in the garden, he reflects that he continue to age, and the picture of him will never age. He curses his fait, and utters an almost prayer saying "if it were only the other way." Basil tries to comfort his friend but Dorian pushes him away. Declaring that he will not let the portrait ruin their friendship, Basil goes to take a knife to the finished work. Dorian runs at Basil and throws the knife from his hand, saying that he loves the paining, and gladly accepts his painted gift. Needing to work, Basil refuses an invitation from Lord Henry to dine with him and Dorian, and notices a pang of pain as he sees his friends leaving together.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 1, narrated by Isaac Birchall

Basil Hallward, a renowned artist discusses his latest masterpiece with his good friend Lord Henry Wotton. Henry admires the painting, which is of a gorgeous, blond haired young man. Henry tells his friend that he needs to exhibit the piece but Basil refuses, saying that he has put too much of himself into it. Henry laughs, saying that the man in the portrait looks nothing like him and asks for a more reasonable answer. Basil then goes on to explain how he met the subject of the portrait at a party hosted by Lord Henry's aunt Agatha. He goes to say that from the first moment that he looked at Dorian, he knew that their lives would intertwine. Dorian has become a necessity in Basil's life, and he states that he wouldn't be happy if he didn't see the boy every day, and claims that whenever he is with Dorian, his art is improved. Lord Henry, is astonished by this story, and suddenly remembers that he had heard the name uttered before by his aunt and laughingly adds that she never mentioned that Dorian was gorgeous. At that moment, the Butler comes to the garden to announce Dorian's arrival at Basil's home. Henry insists on meeting the lad, and Basil begrudgingly accepts, saying that Henry must not influence the boy, as he feels that Dorian could be easily ruined by Lord Henry's cynicism.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle chapter 6 Tobias Gregson Shows What He Can Do, narrated by Isaac Birchall

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen chapter 61, narrated by Isaac Birchall

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen chapter 60, narrated by Isaac Birchall