Books

First edition of Wilde's first and best-known collection of children's stories, including "The Selfish Giant", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Devoted Friend", and "The Remarkable Rocket". Wilde's "reputation as an author dated from the publication of the Happy Prince and Other Tales in London in May 1888. The Athenaeum compared him to Hans Christian Andersen, and Pater wrote to say that 'The Selfish Giant' was 'perfect in its kind,' and the whole book written in 'pure English' - a wonderful compliment" (Ellmann, p. 282). Small quarto. Original cream paper-covered boards, spine lettered in black, front cover lettered in red with vignette design in black and publisher's device in red. Frontispiece, with tissue guard, and 2 plates by Walter Crane, 12 head- and tailpieces by Jacomb Hood. Head of spine lightly worn, boards rubbed, a couple of bumps to extremities, short split to front inner hinge, endpapers and outer leaves lightly foxed, contents otherwise clean and unmarked. A very good copy of this fragile production. Mason 313 ("1,000 copies"). Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, 1987.

The Happy Prince and Other Tales is a collection of five stories that teach profound life lessons through fantasy narrative. Oscar Wilde uses poignant and whimsical storytelling to touch on themes of selflessness, compassion, and love.