April in Dublin does not only bring spring, it also brings literary heroes to life. This year’s honour goes to Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray. A festival will complement the reading initiative, well worth of the candidate for UNESCO City of Literature status.
Dublin is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Western Europe with its reasonable size, lively atmosphere and the ever-present proper Irish cheerful spirit. It is also a city of culture with an amazing literary history to account for and many book worms come here to pay their respect to some of the greatest literary figures of past centuries, featuring Jonathan Swift, W. B. Yeats, J.M. Synge, Oscar Wilde, G.B. Shaw and many others.
For five years now, the increasingly popular One City, One Book festival takes place here in April. The objective is clear: this year, everyone is reading Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray (1891).
The festival promotes one book each year, and apart from the unforgettable reading experience, museums, theatres and other culture-oriented venues join in and put on performances, concerts, exhibitions, lecture, screenings, etc.
This year, visitors will get a proper ‘Wilde’ experience, featuring screening of the new Oliver Parker 2009 film Dorian Gray. The Trinity College Library opens an exhibit to showcase the extensive material on Wilde, one of their most famous students. Those careful readers who long to delve into meaningful discussion will appreciate a series of lectures housed by the National Library of Ireland.
This year’s choice appears to have excited many and Dorian Gray together with Oscar Wilde will come alive once more. Most events will be free of charge, however, visitors are advised to book their seats in advance. One City, One Book is after all getting all the attention it deserves this lovely April.
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