The Happy Prince, and other Tales

By Oscar Wilde and Mint Editions

“Wilde’s first authentic work...marked the beginning of his true creativity...Wilde’s stories are splendid.” -Jeanette Winterson

“...partly for children and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy.”-Jack Zipes

Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and Other Stories(1888) is an inscrutable, magical fairy tale collection that has filled readers of all ages with joy and wonder. Each story explores profound truths of love, morality, and suffering; yet there is a poignant beauty that shines through each of these remarkable and timeless tales.

The opening story, “The Happy Prince” is set in a town full of suffering, where a little sparrow who had been abandoned by his flock befriends a gilded statue of a prince who knew no sorrow in his life. The tenderness of their relationship and their empathy towards the ill-fortune of the townsfolk is one of the most touching evocations in all of children’s literature; It is also a powerful allegory of inner beauty and the preoccupation with superficiality. The story has been adapted into animated films, radio plays, and a number of musical compositions since its publication.

Another cherished gem within this collection is “The Selfish Giant”, one of the most beloved stories in the English literature that tells the tale of a narcissistic giant, his wondrous garden, and the child who transforms his heart. Also included are the stories “The Nightingale and the Rose”, “The Devoted Friend”, and “The Remarkable Rocket”.

With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Happy Prince and Other Stories is both modern and readable.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Release date: Dec 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781513267166

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.

Book preview

THE HAPPY PRINCE

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

He was very much admired indeed. He is as beautiful as a weathercock, remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; only not quite so useful, he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince? asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.

I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy, muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

He looks just like an angel, said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.

How do you know? said the Mathematical Master, you have never seen one.

Ah! but we have, in our dreams, answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

Shall I love you? said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

It is a ridiculous attachment, twittered the other Swallows; she has no money, and far too many relations; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. She has no conversation, he said, and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind. And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtseys. I admit that she is domestic, he continued, but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also.

Will you come away with me? he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.

You have been trifling with me, he cried. I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye! and he flew away.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. Where shall I put up? he said; I hope the town has made preparations.

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.

I will put up there, he cried; it is a fine position, with plenty of fresh air. So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

I have a golden bedroom, he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. What a curious thing! he cried; there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness.

Then another drop fell.

What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off? he said; I must look for a good chimney-pot, and he determined to fly away.

But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw—Ah! what did he see?

The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.

Who are you? he said.

I am the Happy Prince.

Why are you weeping then? asked the Swallow; you have quite drenched me.

When I was alive and had a human heart, answered the statue, "I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay

Reviews for The Happy Prince, and other Tales

[dancook_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So sad - so sad! Don't cry when reading the Happy Prince, because he is a statue with a heart, and that's a rare thing indeed.

[leslie398 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A charming collection of children's stories with just a hint of Wilde's biting wit...

[osbaldistone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's hard to imagine a better reading of selections from the brilliant collection of Wilde's "The Happy Prince and Other Stories". Since the first time I heard one of these stories read by Sir John on the radio, his voice is the voice I hear in my head when I read anything from "The Happy Prince". Hearing these recordings is like having your grandfather tell you stories by the fireplace at night. If you can find this spoken word treasure, buy it!Os.

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsThis is a short book of five fairy tales. It was cute and very quick to read at less than 50 pages. Quite enjoyable!

[cecrow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oscar Wilde was wide-ranging in the literary forms he engaged and I've enjoyed many of his other works, but his fairy tales don't strike me as being one of his strengths. He was no Hans Anderson, not even J.K. Rowling (see: Beedle). But if you're looking for a purely Christian slant in classics for children, you can't do better than this.(4/5) The Happy Prince - A golden statue has opportunity to help his city with a bird's assistance. It's all about charity. Saw the 1974 animation as a kid, so the nostalgia won it some points. (3.5/5) The Nightingale and the Rose - A nightingale selflessly assists a young wooer. Love isn't love unless you're willing to die for it. Most kids won't grasp this without assistance. (3.5/5) The Selfish Giant - spring won't return to the giant's garden after he ejects a bunch of hooligans. Embrace Christianity for everlasting life. Made little impression on me when I was young, and none at all now. (3/5) The Devoted Friend - A tale about give-and-take that's entirely open to misinterpretation, thus the awkward framing story about the water rat.(3.5/5) The Remarkable Rocket - A supremely self-centered firecracker leaves no impression on anyone. A strange note to end on, but there it is.

[kritikarr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably my favourite piece of children's literature. Lovely stories beautifully told, though very sad (some perhaps too sad for little children). Also a pretty edition with some gorgeous illustrations.