The Happy Prince. Tales

Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) — an Irish poet, playwright, and prose writer, one of the most vivid and tragic figures in world literature, he became famous not only for his sharp mind and brilliant aphorisms but also for his tragic fate. The tales of O. Wilde — works of astonishing depth that, under the guise of magical stories, conceal serious philosophical reflections on the nature of beauty, compassion, and the human soul. The tale «The Happy Prince» is a story about a statue of a prince, covered in gold and precious stones, and a swallow that stayed to winter in the city. Together they help the poor by giving away jewels to those in need. It is a hymn to selfless love and mercy, where true beauty is revealed in good deeds. The tale «The Star-Child» is a story about a heartless handsome boy who one day learns that he is the son of a beggar. To atone for his guilt before her and regain his human form, he must go through many trials, learning compassion, because external attractiveness is worth nothing without inner kindness. The tales of Oscar Wilde are a mirror reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of the real world. The writer teaches that true greatness of a person is defined not by status or wealth, but by the ability to empathize and the willingness to sacrifice oneself for another. The book also includes the tales «The Devoted Friend», «The Nightingale and the Rose», «The Fisherman and His Soul».