Publisher Description
The Happy Prince lived in the Palace of Sans Souci, where sorrow was not allowed to enter, and only pleasure was experienced. Then, a gilded statue set on top of a high column allowed him to see all the wretchedness of the poor, the sick and the lonely who inhabited his great city. What develops is a story of sacrifice and redemption that is a parable for our time.
This program includes nine of Oscar Wilde’s magical and haunting fairy tales. Written for his own sons, Wilde’s tales will provide equal delight for children of today.
Included here are:
1. “The Happy Prince”
2. “The Selfish Giant”
3. “The Devoted Friend”
4. “The Remarkable Rocket”
5. “The Nightingale and the Rose”
6. “The Young King”
7. “The Birthday of the Infanta”
8. “The Star-Child”
9. “The Fisherman and His Soul”
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“And here I thought that Oscar Wilde only wrote cheeky, ironic comedies. It has been nearly a year since a friend advised me to look into his fairy-tales, and now I can only wonder what took me so long and echo that friend’s recommendation: they are beautiful. My only complaint is that Wilde’s cynicism about human nature — displayed so hilariously in the likes of The Importance of Being Earnest –here takes on a sombre, tragic note surprising in children’s stories; several tales left me flat-out depressed and disgusted with humanity. However, these only served to make the moments of redemption all the more triumphant. The mastery of the English language behind the clever wordplay in Wilde’s comedies is here translated into gorgeous prose that is almost poetry. I was amazed at the wide range of emotion and meaning he is able to pack into a single, simple image — a bird and a thorn, a stone wall around a garden — but then, that’s as a good fairy tale should be. Bravo, Mr. Wilde.”
—
Cassandra (5 out of 5 stars)
