The Happy Prince and Other Tales is Wilde's first collection of fairy stories, written in the late 1880s. The title story concerns a gilded statue overlooking a city, who sees the misery of its poor people and enlists a small swallow to help. Other tales include The Selfish Giant and The Nightingale and the Rose. They are written in a simple, lyrical style, with gentle irony, and deal with generosity, love and sacrifice. Though often read to children, they carry a melancholy and moral depth that adults appreciate.
Quotes
"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think that gold can make them happy."
"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery."
She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses," cried the young Student; "but in all my garden there is no red rose.
Why, what a wonderful piece of luck!” he cried; “here is a red rose! I have never seen any rose like it in all my life. It is so beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name”;