The Happy Prince (new classics)

by Oscar Wilde

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788892523913
Publisher:	Oscar Wilde
Publication date:	11/30/2015
Sold by:	StreetLib SRL
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Oscar Wilde

Date of Birth:

October 16, 1854

Date of Death:

November 30, 1900

Place of Birth:

Dublin, Ireland

Place of Death:

Paris, France

Education:

The Royal School in Enniskillen, Dublin, 1864; Trinity College, Dublin, 1871; Magdalen College, Oxford, England, 1874

Editorial Reviews

Ray's (Magical Tales from Many Lands; The Story of Christmas) folksy, gilt-laden artwork graces this somewhat formal abridgment of Wilde's tale about an enchanted statue. The Happy Prince, who had lived a happy life and died a happy man, is now immortalized high above the city as a golden and bejeweled statue. For the first time the royal sees the suffering, poverty and misery of the common people. Sharing his sympathetic view with a sparrow, the prince persuades the bird to postpone its migration and instead to deliver his gold leafing, his sapphire eyes and ruby belt to those who need them. Soon the sparrow dies of cold and the prince, now shabby, is removed from its pedestal and melted down. Though young readers may appreciate the lessons of selflessness and sacrifice here, the telling may seem to them stilted and even occasionally disjointed. Ray's characteristically rich palette and her delicate borders and backgrounds provide the visual magic that keeps this sentimental tale afloat. Ages 7-up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 9 Up

These volumes present classic American and British tales that are commonly covered in high school and college literature courses. The stories are all ripe for classroom discussions on irony (The Ransom of Red Chief ), social conventions (The Lottery ), unreliable narrators (The Cask of Amontillado ), and aesthetic philosophy (The Happy Prince ). Each slim volume has a well-spaced typeface with notable passages printed in brightly colored font. A short essay of literary criticism citing textual evidence follows each tale, along with a concise author biography with photographs or paintings. The literary essays may be used as examples for student writing assignments. However, the spot artwork is more decorative than illustrative, and the books' textbooklike appearance will not win any fans among students. Seek more attractive editions if these tales are absent from currently owned anthologies.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI

School Library Journal

Ray presents an abridgment of Wilde's classic fairy tale in picture-book format, leaving the main story intact but eliminating recurring phrases and ideas, omitting the more literary and ironic elements, and changing the phrasing. Illuminated with shiny gold highlights, the striking, full-color artwork contrasts the extremes of wealth and poverty the prince sees about him in the city. Although the abridgment lessens the literary strength and emotional resonance of Wilde's original fairy tale, libraries may want to include this attractive version for younger children.

Carolyn Phelan