The Picture of Dorian Gray question

Agreed. I love: "There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."

Wilde is naive --or pretending to be naive--if he thinks that no book ever inspired a destructive or harmful action in a reader. As an artiste', sure--you can claim you have no responsibility--but that's a mighty convenient smokescreen to hide behind. The truth is we are responsible for the effects we have on others, no matter at how many removes. 'Mein Kampf' is a poorly written piece-of-trash yet caused plenty of grief for the world. If it had been exquisite prose, would it have been free from moral rebuke? Apparently so, according to Wilde. He puts all the responsibility on the reader. Witty writer, but I never much admired the man himself. He was too clever by far at making himself comfortable and didn't mind a little self-conceit to do so.

I agree with you. It's the best preface I've ever read in my life. The first time I read the preface I knew this was going to be my favorite book.

Linette wrote: "I think that this preface is the best written preface ever! The words and the short sentences, that catch you off-guard, and you do not know where the rage is coming from.
I like the fact that the..."
I read the preface. Closed the book. Read it again. Closed it again. Repeat. It was just too good to allow you to go ahead! He should have forewarned that as it was written after the whole book, so should it be read!