Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Today he is remembered for his epigrams, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, his plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death.

The Selfish Giant

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. It…

The Young King

It was the night before the day fixed for his coronation, and the young King was sitting alone in his…

The Remarkable Rocket

The King's son was going to be married, so there were general rejoicings. He had waited a whole year for…

The Star Child

Once upon a time two poor Woodcutters were making their way home through a great pine-forest. It was winter, and…

The Sphinx Without A Secret

From Lord Savile's Crime and Other Stories (1891) One afternoon I was sitting outside the Cafe de la Paix, watching…

The Happy Prince

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt. He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes;

The Model Millionaire

Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.

The Devoted Friend

From The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888) One morning the old Water-rat put his head out of his hole.…