The Happy Prince and Other Stories (Books of Wonder) [Hardcover]

Oscar Wilde (Author), Charles Robinson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Books of Wonder

A lavish facsimile of the rare 1913 edition, this is a book readers will want to return to again and again. Wilde's bittersweet tales are brought to life in Chares Robinson's twelve color plates and seventy romantic drawings. Full-color and black-and-white illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-A statue of a privileged prince develops a social conscience and a swallow intends to pause just a moment to assist him. Together they conspire to bring a modicum of contentment, financial security, and compassion to the beleaguered poor of a nameless city in northern Europe and both receive their rewards in a heavenly paradise. In this morality tale originally intended for the childlike rather than the child, Wilde addresses issues of social injustice, the loss of innocence, and the redemptive power of love. The otherwise verbatim retelling of the original contains two omissions: reference to Jewish merchants in the ghetto and part of a descriptive passage of life on the Nile that included pygmies and strange religious practices. The watercolor illustrations, varying in size and irregular in shape, are literal extensions of the text. A brief biography of Wilde is appended. Though the winsome swallow and wistful prince have appeal, buy only where literary fairy tales have a ready audience. A more evocative interpretation can be found in Ed Young's version (S & S, 1992).
Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'The Puffin Classics series is a perfect marriage of the old and the new. Enjoy some of the best books from the past and find out why and how they inspired some of the best writers of the present. - Julia Ecclesshare, Lovereading4kids' - Julia Eccleshare, Lovereading4kids --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 133 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 24, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688103901
• ISBN-13: 978-0688103903
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,092,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent beyond compare!!!!, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Happy Prince and Other Stories (Books of Wonder) (Hardcover)

As a child I didn't have the books of Oscar Wilde but rather the records. My imagination soared with his descriptions of life, and my eyes overflowed with tears at each story. The record of the Happy Prince was read by Bing Crosby and Orson Wells and each year at Christmas we still play that old scratched thing, just to hear it's wonderous love story and that of The Selfish Giant. Now I have to get the book so my nieces and nephews will share in my treasures of love!!!! What is this world if it isn't all about Love?

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully fanciful, May 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Happy Prince and Other Stories (Books of Wonder) (Hardcover)

I remember this book from my childhood. I had my parents read each story to me over and over. When I learned how to read I read this book until the pages fell out. In short it is a great book that encourages youthful imaginations. And, it makes for great bedtime stories. A real classic. I bought it for my children.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Tales of Great Worth, October 28, 2002

By 

Claudius (Boston (Roslindale), Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Happy Prince & Other Stories (Wordsworth Children's Classics) (Wordsworth Classics) (Paperback)

When I was quite small (I'm now 64) the 33 1/3 records were introduced. One of the first that we got was a recording of "The Happy Prince". It featured Bing Crosby. I listened to it over and over until I went off to college. Years later I was in England, and I discovered that there was a whole book of stories. Over the years I have re-read this book so much that it is now in tatters. Each story is a gem unto itself. Each story will become another jewel in your treasure chest of lenses, which help you to see the world more clearly. Now that I have discovered that this book is still in print, I expect to buy multiple copies to give as Christmas Gifts this year. Do yourself a favor and don't miss these delightful additions to your life. (Psst : I like this book !)