Every week we post six lines of a story of ours, a work-in-progress or from someone else’s work that we recommend that has LGBT characters on Rainbow Snippets, here; https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets

I’ve gotten a nice response the last couple of years posting a snippet of Oscar Wilde around Christmas. No overtly LGBT characters here but the writer IS Oscar Wilde. And there are some closeted Gay sensibilities in his legendary novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” from where I have taken this week’s snippets. The man who is our title character is young and pretty. He would like to stay that way forever. He would, in fact, give anything…

Do not be fooled by Dorian’s good looks and charm; Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to a monster…

“How sad it is!” murmured Dorian Gray, with his eyes still fixed on his own portrait….”I shall grow old, and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day in June…If it was only the other way! If it was I who were to be always young and this picture that were to grow old!

Be careful what you wish for! In our next snippet; Dorian shows the artist, Hallward, the portrait he did after several years have passed…

An exclamation of horror broke form Hallward’s lips as he saw in the dim light the hideous face on the canvas grinning at him. There was something in it’s expression that filled him with disgust and loathing. Good heavens! It was Dorian Gray’s own face that he was looking at!

If you think Hallward is not long for this world, you are very perceptive! (Oh and I borrowed the two snippets from Wilde’s two different versions of the story!)

I wish you all the best for the happiest and most meaningful holiday season. May your joys come in more than snippets! ——jeff baker

And here’s a link to Wilde’s famous novel: https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Dorian-Gray-Oscar-Wilde/dp/0141439572/ref=asc_df_0141439572&mcid=626d120144813c9fb8e4154ff9d17e58?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79989524645423&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583589102213271&psc=1