With brilliant illustrations by a master of comic art, this book of two of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales brings his lyrical prose to life. In the first tale, the Young King is taken from humble origins and revels in the finer possessions of his new, lofty position. However, a series of dreams reveal to him the suffering his people must go through to make the extravagant belongings for him. Casting them off, he finds paradoxically that he may be alienating the very people he wants to help. In “The Remarkable Rocket,” a vain little rocket figures itself above all others and still manages to see glory in its dismal end. Perfect for middle school students as an introduction to the world-famous author, the dazzling illustrations in this book suit the timeless writings of Wilde.\n\nOscar Wi...
Arguably the most famous and beloved of Oscar Wilde's nine fairy tales, this particular rendition stands apart from the others due to its brilliant illustrations by a master of comic art. After dying young, the Happy Prince's soul inhabits a beautiful ruby-encrusted statue covered in gold leaf which is perched high above the city. But when he sees the poverty, misery and desperateness of his people, he enlists the help of a barn swallow to remove the gilding of his statue and shower the riches on his people. In the spring, the townspeople are saved, but find only a stripped down and dull statue alongside a dead swallow. The remains are tossed into an ash heap, but an emissary of God recognizes their sacrifice, and escorts them into the gardens of Heaven. Perfect for middle school stud...