The Happy Prince & Other Tales

Oscar Wilde's stories have given pleasure to generations of readers. This collection of children's stories, first published in 1888, explores timeless themes of good and evil, freedom and responsibility, love and death, beauty and self-sacrifice. Featuring princesses, ogres, and talking animals, The Happy Prince & Other Tales poses questions that are as pertinent now as they were at the turn of the century. What is love? asks "The Happy Prince." How do you get what you need? asks "The Nightingale and the Rose." How do you win friends--and avoid alienating people? Can you have too much compassion? How can you set the world on fire?

By turns moving and funny, these stories teach free thinking rather than giving prescriptive lessons. This beautiful collector's edition includes original watercolor illustrations and decorative motifs from the 1913 edition by Charles Robinson. With an introduction by Wilde expert Michèle Mendelssohn, The Happy Prince & Other Tales is certain to surprise and delight children and adults alike.