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New York, NY, June 2004— Signet Classic, the imprint of New American Library devoted for more than 40 years to publishing inexpensive paperback editions of more than 300 of the world's greatest literary works, has announced the winners of the eighth annual Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest. The Grand Prize Winners, listed in alphabetical order, are:

• Raphael Barcham
  Raphael is in 12th grade, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, NJ
  
• Tracy Brown
  Tracy is in 12th grade, Mayfield High School, Las Cruces, NM
  
• Kendall Rice
  Kendall is in 12th Grade, Southside High School, Fort Smith, AR
  
• Matt Schrimpf
  Matt is in 12th Grade, Centennial High School, Franklin, TN
  
• Elizabeth Weinstein
  Elizabeth is in 12th Grade, Marlborough School, Los Angeles, CA

Essay Subject
The Picture of Dorian Gray

Topics for the 2004 Essay Contest:

1. Lord Henry Wotton is attractive to almost everyone in the novel from Dorian Gray, who becomes evil, to Basil Hallward, who remains principled throughout. What kind of person is Lord Henry? Why is he so appealing to the other characters? Support your answer with specific references to the novel.
2. How does the novel portray the British upper class of the late nineteenth century? What are its dominant characteristics? Do you believe Oscar Wilde admires this group? Support your answer with specific references to the novel.
3. What is Oscar Wilde's view of women, love, and marriage as depicted in The Picture of Dorian Gray? Support your answer with specific references to the novel.
4. In the Foreword of the Signet Classic edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Gary Schmidgall states: "Dorian Gray, a fable writ large in which the presence of a moral is overwhelmingly apparent. But just what is that moral? This question was the focus of much controversy when the novel first appeared, and it remains the most crucial question for each reader to attempt to answer." (p. xix). What do you think the moral is? Cite examples from the book to support your answer.

The Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest was established in 1996 to encourage greater interest in reading among high school students by offering tangible assistance to the winning students and their schools.It is open to qualifying high school juniors and seniors in the United States. "We are proud to be involved in a unique scholarship program that encourages student appreciation for the great classics," notes Liz Perl, Vice President and Executive Director of Publicity for New American Library.

Entrants are required to submit a 2-3 page double-spaced, typewritten essay, answering one of four questions relating to the designated competition book. Essays must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the themes in the book; clear, concise writing; and logical, well-supported arguments. Judges also consider style, content, grammar and originality. Five Grand Prize Winners are each awarded a $1,000 scholarship and a Signet Classic Library for their school (or local public library, in the case of home-schooled students), valued at $1,700.

The designated title for 2003-2004 was The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The book selected for the 2004-2005 Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest is The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

For more information on the 2005 Signet Classics Essay Contest contest, click here.

Entry forms and full information about the contest will also be available in high school English departments, or by writing to:

Penguin Group (USA)
Signet Classic Scholarship Essay Contest
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

New American Library is a division of Penguin Group (USA), part of Pearson Plc, the international media group, and includes the imprints Signet, Signet Classics, Onyx, Roc and NAL Trade Paperbacks.

Penguin Group (USA) would like to thank our friends at Family Education Network and PBS for their support of the Signet Classics Essay Contest.

For more information, please contact
Carolyn Birbiglia, Penguin Group (USA) Publicist, at 212-366-2203.