‘The Happy Prince’ is a fairy story, written for children, from the pen of one of the 19th Century’s most regarded writers. It tells the story of a lovelorn swallow, trying to follow his friends to Egypt for the winter. However, he tires and decides to land at the foot of a statue, in a large city. Slowly, he befriends the statue of the Happy Prince, who may not be quite as happy as he seems. A tender and tragic tale, ‘The Happy Prince’ is beautifully written and deservedly takes up the title of a timeless classic. Perfect for readers of all ages.
Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish novelist, poet, playwright, and wit. He was an advocate of the Aesthetic movement, which extolled the virtues of art for the sake of art. During his career, Wilde wrote nine plays, including ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan,’ and ‘A Woman of No Importance,’ many of which are still performed today. His only novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ was adapted for the silver screen, in the film, ‘Dorian Gray,’ starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth. In addition, Wilde wrote 43 poems, and seven essays. His life was the subject of a film, starring Stephen Fry.