The Devoted Friend

Written by Oscar Wilde

Narrated by Abigail Reno

The Devoted Friend by Oscar Wilde was first published in 1888 in the anthology The Happy Prince and Other Tales.
Hans was a little man who owned a beautiful garden, where he grew flowers of all kinds and colours which were sold in the market to make some money. He enjoyed the company of another man called Hugh, a 
miller who used to visit Hans very often during the summer time and with whom he shared thoughts about friendship and loyalty.
However, when winter came, Hans found himself in a very difficult situation, as his flowers wouldn't flourish anymore until the following spring, meaning that he was impoverished, living on a simple diet of a 
few pears or hard nuts.
Meanwhile, the miller lived comfortably in his own house, and avoided visiting his friend or helping him in any way not to make him jealous and spoil, if not break, their friendship.
After winter, when Hans' flowers are blooming, Hugh visits Hans with a basket to get flowers. Upon hearing Hans' story, Hugh promises to give Hans his wheelbarrow, which is falling apart and not even usable. In return for this 'gift,' Hugh guilts Hans into working for him day in and day out, selling his flour, mending his roof, and even going to get the doctor for Hugh's sick son. 
On the way back from this last errand, Hans gets lost and dies. Hugh gives himself a prominent place at Hans' funeral, promising never to give anything away again, since the wheelbarrow (which he never gave to Hans) was so much trouble.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing Audio
• Release date: Apr 24, 2024

Oscar Wilde

OSCAR WILDE (Dublín, 1854–París, 1900), poeta y dramaturgo irlandés, es considerado uno de los más célebres escritores en lengua inglesa de todos los tiempos, tanto por su provocadora personalidad como por su obra. Escribió relatos y novelas, como El retrato de Dorian Gray, poemas como el desgarrador La balada de la cárcel de Reading, y fue enormemente popular en el Londres victoriano por su exitosa producción teatral, como La importancia de llamarse Ernesto, y por su ingenio mordaz y brillante conversación.