The Happy Prince, and Other Tales, Oscar Wilde
The Happy Prince, and Other Tales, Oscar Wilde
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The Happy Prince, and Other Tales

Author: Oscar Wilde

Narrator: Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan, Bobbie Frohman, David Thorn

Unabridged: 1 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/20/2014


Synopsis

A charming collection of children's stories by Oscar WildeThe Happy Prince This is the tale of an unhappy prince and how he teaches generosity and love to a small sparrow who becomes his friend. The Nightingale and the RoseA nightingale overhears a student complaining that his professor's daughter will not dance with him, as he is unable to give her a red rose. The nightingale visits all the rose-trees in the garden, and one of the roses tells her there is a way to produce a red rose, but only if the nightingale is prepared to make a sacrifice.The Selfish GiantThere once was a giant who had the most beautiful garden, but he refused to share it with the children in his village. When springtime refuses to visit the garden, the giant becomes sad and angry—until he meets a little boy who teaches him how to love others. The Devoted FriendA young lad is befriended by a prosperous farmer, who takes advantage of the boy's generosity and only gives him broken promises in return. But the young lad continues to be generous, even though his last act of kindness costs him dearly. Only then does the farmer changes his tune. The Remarkable RocketThe king's son was to be married, and there was to be a superb fireworks display for the event. All the rockets and different kinds of fireworks were excited about their big moment. But the Rocket was very arrogant and self-important, causing problems for all of the fireworks.

About Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was born in Dublin. He won scholarships to both Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1875, he began publishing poetry in literary magazines, and in 1878, he won the coveted Newdigate Prize for English poetry. He had a reputation as a flamboyant wit and man-about-town. After his marriage to Constance Lloyd in 1884, he tried to establish himself as a writer, but with little initial success. However, his three volumes of short fiction, The Happy Prince, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and A House of Pomegranates, together with his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, gradually won him a reputation as a modern writer with an original talent. That reputation was confirmed and enhanced by the phenomenal success of his society comedies: Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest, all performed on London’s West End stage between 1892 and 1895. In 1895, he was convicted of engaging in homosexual acts, which were then illegal, and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor. He soon declared bankruptcy, and his property was auctioned off. In 1896, he lost legal custody of his children. When his mother died that same year, his wife Constance visited him at the jail to bring him the news. It was the last time they saw each other. In the years after his release, his health deteriorated. In November 1900, he died in Paris at the age of forty-six.

About Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan

Sobha Tharoor Srinivasan has worked in radio, television, and theater since she was a child. After emigrating from India to the United States, she studied literature in college and has worked as speech coach, grant writer, and audiobook narrator.

About Bobbie Frohman

Bobbie Frohman, a third generation Californian, was raised in a large extended family, the niece of cowboys. Early on she developed a deep love of animals, training her dogs to perform with her at dog shows, and as a competitive barrel racer with her beloved horse, Lucky.

About David Thorn

David Thorn spent his childhood in the Channel Islands off the coast of France, was schooled in England, and then immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-three. He is retired from international commerce and currently resides in California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by ☘Misericordia☘ on October 10, 2018

Lovely tales. Read it as a little kid. Loved it beyond time and measure. Q: The Happy Prince The Nightingale and the Rose The Selfish Giant The Devoted Friend The Remarkable Rocket (c) Q: "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind."......more

Goodreads review by Vasilii on May 10, 2025

I wish I had read this collection of fairy tales before I started writing reviews. I decided to read one story every night before bed. After all, these are fairy tales—that’s what you do with them. Big mistake. Instead of putting me to sleep, they kept me awake, making me think for at least an hour.......more

Goodreads review by Melindam on May 24, 2019

Note to self: never ever try to read/finish this book on a train or anywhere in public! To think that the author who kept the stiff Victorians in stitches with his plays could write such heart-wrenching stuff.... Ahhhh, don't talk to me today, I am totally undone.......more