The Happy Prince and Other Stories

The Happy Prince and Other Stories

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Description

The Happy Prince and Other Stories is a collection of stories for children by Oscar Wilde. It contains five stories, “The Happy Prince”, “The Nightingale and the Rose”, “The Selfish Giant”, “The Devoted Friend”, and “The Remarkable Rocket”. It is most famous for its title story, “The Happy Prince”. In a town where a lot of poor people suffer, a swallow who was left behind after his flock flew off to Egypt for the winter meets the statue of the late “Happy Prince”, who in reality has never experienced true happiness. Viewing various scenes of people suffering in poverty from his tall monument, the Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his hilt, the sapphires from his eyes, and the golden leaf covering his body to give to the poor. As the winter comes and the Happy Prince is stripped of all of his beauty, his lead heart breaks when the swallow dies as a result of his selfless deeds. The statue is then torn down and melted leaving behind the broken heart and the dead swallow. These are taken up to heaven by an angel that has deemed them the two most precious things in the city by God, so they may live forever in his city of gold and garden of paradise.

  • Author: Oscar Wilde
  • Publisher: BookRix
  • Published: 2019-06-28
  • Pages: 105
  • ISBN-13: 9783736808720

Additional information

Author

Oscar Wilde

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Summary

What the internet says

Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.

Overall reception: Mostly positive

Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince and Other Stories' receives overwhelmingly positive reception as a collection of fairy tales that transcend simple children's literature. Readers consistently praise the stories for their emotional depth, moral complexity, and beautiful prose, though many warn that these tales are surprisingly heartbreaking. On Amazon, 56 customers mention the content positively, with readers appreciating how the stories are 'packed with heartfelt meaning' and feature themes of love, sacrifice, kindness, and compassion. The collection is frequently described as having layers that appeal to both children and adults, with one Goodreads reviewer noting the stories 'superficially read as a child's story but they are also full of morality and are very witty.'

The emotional impact of these stories is a defining characteristic, with 11 out of 13 Amazon customers mentioning the emotional content positively, though several reviewers caution readers to 'expect to shed a few tears.' Stories like 'The Happy Prince,' 'The Selfish Giant,' and 'The Nightingale and the Rose' are frequently highlighted as particularly moving. Readers appreciate Wilde's 'eloquent and poetic writing' that makes the stories 'a joy to read out loud,' and many note the Christian theological elements and moral lessons woven throughout. The collection averages 4.03 stars on The StoryGraph with 270 reviews, indicating strong overall satisfaction.

Criticism centers primarily on two areas: the illustrations in certain editions receive mixed reviews (6 negative mentions versus 5 positive on Amazon), with some readers finding them 'intentionally primitive' and 'hard to get used to' rather than the expected 'realistic, or even pre-Raphaelite or Art Nouveau' style. Additionally, some readers note a lack of originality, with one Goodreads reviewer from Denmark observing the stories feel like 'a wonderful concoction of characters from Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales' with nothing particularly new. A few readers also express fatigue with the Christian parables, wishing 'every story didn't wind up as a surprise Christian parable,' and some find certain stories like 'The Fisherman and His Soul' and 'The Birthday of The Infanta' to be overly long-winded.

What readers loved

  • Stories contain profound emotional depth and heartfelt meaning that resonates with both children and adults
  • Beautiful, eloquent, and poetic writing style that is excellent for reading aloud
  • Strong moral lessons about compassion, sacrifice, kindness, and the dangers of selfishness without being preachy or talking down to readers
  • Combines elements of fairy tales with sharp social commentary and satire on Victorian society that remains relevant today
  • Stories like 'The Happy Prince,' 'The Selfish Giant,' and 'The Nightingale and the Rose' are particularly memorable and moving
  • Wilde's characteristic wit and humor shine through even in these children's stories
  • Quick, fast-paced reads that are accessible yet thought-provoking and unforgettable

Common critiques

  • Illustrations in some editions receive criticism for being primitive or not matching reader expectations for realistic or Art Nouveau style
  • Stories can be extremely sad and heartbreaking, which may not suit all readers expecting traditional happy endings
  • Some readers find the stories derivative of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales with limited originality
  • Christian theological elements and religious parables throughout may not appeal to all readers
  • Certain stories like 'The Fisherman and His Soul' and 'The Birthday of The Infanta' are criticized as long-winded compared to the tighter narratives of other tales

Based on reviews from

  • Amazon
  • Goodreads
  • Goodreads Discussion
  • The StoryGraph
Last updated May 18, 2026 Summary based on publicly available reviews. May not reflect every reader's experience.

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