Customer Reviews

The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Vol. 1: The Selfish Giant & The Star Child (v. 1)

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I have a vivid memory of a film strip adaptation of "The Selfish Giant" that I saw several times in kindergarten and first grade. I didn't really understand the Christian allegory at the time, but I was entranced by the beautiful, melancholy nature of the story. Years later I still find it deeply moving, and P. Craig Russell's adaptation is as perfect a retelling as I can imagine. Though a non-Christian, I find that the story loses none of its impact or beauty. This is a story for anyone with an open mind and a love of well-told children's tales. Russell is one of the modern masters of cartooning, and his artwork and sense of design really compliment the story. His second collection of Wilde's fairy tales is also highly recommended, as are his adaptations of various operas and the fantasy stories of Michael Moorcock.

The Selfish Giant is without a doubt the most touching, deeply moving, powerful, uplifting, but sad, children's story I have ever read. I recommend this book to all adults, students, and children who haven't cried for a while, or need a great, quick, life-changing read.

"The Selfish Giant"

When a curmudgeonly giant walls off his lovely garden so the neighborhood children mightn't enjoy it, he incurs Spring's disdain and the dire consequences of life without seasonal renewal. Having seen the error of his ways, the giant redeems himself by opening both his heart and his earthly paradise to the children and gains his eternal reward. Russell employs a cartoon style with a muted color pallet to not only complement Wilde's tale with illustrations but also extend its tale with subtle symbolism. The color choices reflect not only the colors of the seasons but the spiritual and emotional qualities that are often associated with each season such as punishment, hope, rebirth, and redemption. This work is a masterful use of archetypes and symbolism.

"The Star Child"

The Star Child, the adopted son of a poor woodcutter, is the beneficiary of charity and kindness. Ironically, his better nature is sullied by a sense of entitlement that stems from a vain love of his own good looks. Upon meeting an old tattered mendicant who claims to be his mother, he casts her aside and withholds his love. Consequently, he is punished by the powers that be, stripped of the attractiveness of which he is so proud, and set upon the path to redemption. Henceforth, the Star Child wanders the earth seeking his mother and her forgiveness until he unknowingly happens upon his birthplace and is forced to perform a series of Herculean labors. Accomplishing these tasks while learning the true meaning of self-sacrifice, charity, and kindness earns the Star Child the forgiveness that he seeks and solves the mystery of his origin. Throughout the tale, Russell's charicatural style simultaneously reinforces the story's elements of fantasy while bolstering the audience's suspension of disbelief as the Star Child is cloaked in a heinous visage that reflects the inner blackness of his heart until he comes to know humility.

Russell's rendering of these tales would make an excellent introduction to Fairy Tales as a genre or to the work of Oscar Wilde. Similarly, they are an excellent exemplar of the hero cycle as explained by Peter R. Stillman in Introduction to Myth.

P. Craig Russell is one of the most literate comic artists now active. He is best known for his opera adaptations, but he goes after a different kind of story here.

These start as fairy tales in the classic mold, with giants, ice fairies, enchantments, and royalty lost and found. Even though Wilde wrote them, they're tame enough for kids and carry moral lessons I wouldn't mind a kid seeing. Wilde made sure there's plenty for the adults to hold onto, including a surprisingly religious turn in "The Selfish Giant." To tell the truth, I haven't read Wilde's original stories. This book is good encouragement to do so.

Russell's gentle artwork brings these stories to life. He has a unique way with fantasy elements, vividly seen in the Giant's perpetual winter. He also has a fine sense of how much cartooniness to allow - just enough for the story, but not enough to Disneyfy Wilde's text.

I consider these kid-safe, but "Star child" has a few harsh turns that may not suit the delicate - read the story first, yourself, then decide whether it suits your family. Or just get it for yourself, as I did.

//wiredweird

I'd like to give it a score of "-5" but 1 is the lowest available here. This is absolutely and positively the ugliest artistic rendition of Oscar Wilde's beautiful fairy tales and of that of thousands of children's books I have read or collected over many years. The comic book style illustrations draw the reader away from the inner poetry and beauty of Wilde's prose. This is truly the first book I have ever thought of burning - it would make good kindling for the fireplace.