This beautiful and remarkable little wonder of a book includes 'The Happy Prince,' 'The Nightingale and the Rose,' 'The Selfish Giant,' 'The Devoted Friend,' and 'The Remarkable Rocket.' Wilde is a man remembered for plays like 'The Importance of Being Ernest,' works like De Profundis and the scandal that attended it, and of course The Picture of Dorian Gray – but in many respects, this book (and a couple others like it) are Wilde’s real treasures. Highly recommended.
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; 'only not quite so useful,' he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not. 'Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?' asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. 'The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.'
