Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Happy Prince and Other Tales

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 3,093 ratings · 195 reviews

A pleasure seeking prince, a selfish giant, and more: Wilde's fairy tales, first published in 1888, for childlike people from eighteen to eighty."

Hardcover, 96 pages

Published October 10th 1995 by Everyman's Library (first published 1892)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

What Book Got You Hooked?

418th out of 2,181 books — 6,648 voters

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Best childrens books EVER

179th out of 752 books — 865 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

May 08, 2011 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: 501 Must Read Books

Shelves: 501, childrens

The popular author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak aptly says in his introduction of this book: "There's something in these fairy tales that reminds me why any of us would want to be readers and writers in the first place, and that is that, the more amazing the stories become, the more I believe them, and the more I realize that I won't forget them." For me, these stories are truly unforgettable!

The Happy Prince : 5 stars (Amazing!)

A formerly rich and only child prince is now a regal statue. The...more

14 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2009 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: short-stories-novellas, classics

This is a beautiful little collection of stories. I thought I'd never read any of them, but I'd definitely read "The Selfish Giant" before, and some of the others seemed familiar. The stories are all a little like fairy tales, though, so that's probably part of it.

My favourites were "The Nightingale and the Rose" and "The Fisherman and His Soul", I think. All of them are lovely, though. I especially like the beginning of Star-Child. Some of the lines in it are gorgeous, like: "And when they came...more

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 Cheryl M-M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Today I decided to get an old dusty favourite out to read. Why you may ask, why today of all days would you choose Wilde?
Why have you picked this book over something equally superb and known for its literary prowess...you know something that features:

GIFSoup

That's right goblins, goblin sex and oh baby eating goblins.
I mean isn't that the kind of book you think of straight away when you think of renowned playwrights like Wilde.

GIFSoup

Yeh, I know I was kind of speechless as well when I found out...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 27, 2011 Mia Queen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, buntelan, isn-t-it-ironic

Pangeran Bahagia, kumpulan cerita Oscar Wilde adalah salah satu seri fiksi klasik yang diterbitkan oleh penerbit Serambi. Covernya bagus, menggambarkan patung Pangeran Bahagia yang menjulang tinggi dan di pundaknya bertengger burung Walet. Ada 5 cerita yang semuanya bernuansa sedih dan ironis. Kelima di antaranya : Pangeran Bahagia, Bunga Mawar dan Burung Bulbul, Raksasa yang Egois, Teman yang Setia dan Roket yang Luar Biasa. Mirip dongeng anak-anak, walau begitu banyak pelajaran yang secara imp...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Wilde and short stories. Literature/Creative writing students.

I do really like Oscar Wilde, so giving this collectiont three stars pains me somewhat. It's not that they aren't well written, they're just incredibly sad and frustrating. "The Devoted Friend", for example, just annoyed me. There are no happy endings and, call me old fashioned, but I think happy endings in children's stories are a necessity. That being said I read "The Selfish Giant" many times as a child. Whether it did me any good or not remains to be seen!

From an analytical point of view I c...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 El rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, late19th-centurylit

(Review of The Happy Prince as part of the Complete Works of Oscar Wilde.)

Another morality tale brought to you from the hand of Oscar Wilde. The Happy Prince is a statue housing the soul of the prince who had been happy in his life because unhappiness was not allowed, and he didn't know what lay outside his own walls - ignorance is bliss. As a statue, he was able to look out over the land and see all the misery that actually existed.

He asks a swallow to take jewels from his statue to different p...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2009 Greg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood-favorites, fiction-and-humor

This was one of my favorite collections as a child, and I spent many happy hours reading and re-reading the short stories contained in this volume. The Nightingale and the Rose was a joy to read, as was The Happy Prince, but my favorite by far was The Selfish Giant. Even now, after fifty decades of life, I find myself occasionally going back to re-read this beautiful little story of the walled in giant whose heart was softened by love. It has so much of such importance to teach about the well-li...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2011 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, childrens, 19th-century

The moral of this story maybe about self sacrifice or maybe helping people in need. But what I got from it was 'money can buy happiness'.

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2009 Bram rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

I could squirt some tears just thinking about a couple of these stories.

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Kungkang Kangkung rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kumcer

Sebenarnya saya agak bingung mau kasih bintang berapa, rasanya bintang 2 agaknya terlalu sedikit, tapi saya tidak mau mengakui menyukai buku ini. Hahaha.. Nggak jadi kasih bintang 3 deh.

Buku ini sebenarnya bagus, beneran. Cuma bukan selera saya saja. Saya bosan dengan pesan-pesan moral yang ada di sini, karena sudah terlalu sering dijejali bekal pesan-pesan semacamnya sejak saya masih SD.

Jujur saya bingung sama buku ini. Ada yang bilang buku ini bukan untuk anak-anak, tapi saya sempat merasa ini...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-my-youth, librivox-audiobooks-they-re-free, victorian-book-club

“If you want a red rose,” said the Tree, “you must build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with your own heart’s-blood. You must sing to me with your breast against a thorn. All night long you must sing to me, and the thorn must pierce your heart, and your life-blood must flow into my veins, and become mine.”
“Death is a great price to pay for a red rose,” cried the Nightingale, “and Life is very dear to all. It is pleasant to sit in the green wood, and to watch the Sun in his chariot o

...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 31, 2012 Anarika rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone who likes tales

Recommended to Anarika by: Nadja

Shelves: auf-deutschen-zu-lesen, not-only-for-kids

I enjoyed reading this today in the sun. I am reading a German version (with English text on one page, German on the other)...Wilde's style is astonishing. These tales are told in a simple way, for kids, but are definitely more than just that. They warm up your heart, even though they are a bit sad. (25th March 2012)
31st March 2012:
They are sad indeed, but they are written so beautifully and they talk about caring about others, winning over our own selfishness, believing in love and in the good...more I enjoyed reading this today in the sun. I am reading a German version (with English text on one page, German on the other)...Wilde's style is astonishing. These tales are told in a simple way, for kids, but are definitely more than just that. They warm up your heart, even though they are a bit sad. (25th March 2012)
31st March 2012:
They are sad indeed, but they are written so beautifully and they talk about caring about others, winning over our own selfishness, believing in love and in the good that there is, about being generous...They reveal the genious behind the man that Oscar Wilde was and his deep undertsanding of the human nature, of the vice and virtues that are in all of us, but that he somehow tends to represent concentrated in the protagonists of his tales.
The collection that I have read contains The Happy Prince, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend, The Nightingale and the Rose and The Remarkable Rocket.
The Water Rat and the Miller (of the Devouted Friend) and the Remarkable Rocket were simpy too annoying in their stubborness and selfishness and impossibility to see more realistically themselves, but - hey! -I recognised in them so many people that "keep eating your brain" (as a Spanish friend of mine says) with their righteousness, talking and talking about themselves, seeing only themselves, while not understanding anything about the world and the people that surround them, insisting on their "perfection" and superiority. At the end, you feel almost sorry for them, for their stupidity...but they are just as some people in real life that do not want to understand. And there is nothing you can do.
I loved the giant, who changed his heart (and saw the arrival of Spring, by accepting Children in his garden) and was stopped only by death (but after living many many happy years)!
When we were 15 we had to read The Nightingale and the Rose for school. Only now I can see how wonderful that tale is. It tells you that there are people who believe in real truthful love and are able to give their life for it, the ones that shut their heart into the world of books and theoretical knowledge, refusing to experience true sentiment, and the ones who only care about what is tangible and material, but what comes with prestige and power - ultimately money (?!). I don't think that I understood this tale when I first read it. Such a pity!
And yeah, the Happy Prince. Truly Happy indeed. Despite all the ones who saw him as beautiful only when he was covered in gold. Kids should learn that what is really important is invisible through sight. And adults, too.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Melisa Mariani rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, fantasy, koleksiku-ind, short-stories, favorites, the-classics-club, bukuku-lagi-dipinjam

Dongeng untuk segala usia. Buku tipis yang berisi lima cerita pendek karya Oscar Wilde ini sungguh sayang untuk dilewatkan dan menyenangkan untuk dibaca berulang-ulang. Lewat untaian kata-kata yang indah, cenderung tragis, dan penuh sindiran, Wilde berusaha mengajak pembaca untuk berhenti dan merenungkan apa artinya menjadi manusia seutuhnya. Bahwa manusia diciptakan satu paket dengan kemampuan untuk mencintai dengan tulus, apakah kita sudah mampu untuk melakukannya? Inilah kelima cerpen yang te...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Annisa Anggiana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: short-stories, classics, terjemahan

Penerbit : Serambi

Tebal : 104 Halaman

Alih Bahasa : Risyiana Muthia

Saya kesengsem sama karyanya Oscar Wilde semenjak baca The Picture Of Dorian Gray. Dalam karya-karyanya Oscar Wilde selalu menyampaikan kesan/kritiknya tentang tatanan dan kondisi masyarakat di masanya yang anehnya masih relevan dengan kondisi saat ini.

Buku Pangeran Bahagia ini adalah kumpulan cerpen fabel yang terdiri dari lima cerita. Melalui cerita pendek ini Oscar Wilde menyampaikan pesannya tentang kemanusiaan dan sindiran-si...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 26, 2011 Huma Rashid rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: england, 19th-century, fiction

I've been an Oscar Wilde fan for years and have read "The Picture of Dorian Gray" several times, and "The Importance of Being Ernest" so many times I practically have it memorized. But this collection of little stories is so unlike Wilde's other work that I wouldn't have believed he wrote this if his name hadn't been on the cover.

The stories are written in an almost liturgical style, like they're old stories left out of the Bible. They're beautiful, they're dry, they're preachy, they're overly...more I've been an Oscar Wilde fan for years and have read "The Picture of Dorian Gray" several times, and "The Importance of Being Ernest" so many times I practically have it memorized. But this collection of little stories is so unlike Wilde's other work that I wouldn't have believed he wrote this if his name hadn't been on the cover.

The stories are written in an almost liturgical style, like they're old stories left out of the Bible. They're beautiful, they're dry, they're preachy, they're overly emotionally charged. They're about charity and compassion and love and selflessness, and they're just so heavy-handed about it. Plus, it's weird to see Wilde write so grandly of such things when he spent all of Dorian Gray and Ernest making fun of everything.

"The Happy Prince" is actually quite beautiful, and reads to me like something out of Arabian Nights. I was surprised by the tone and content, because it's so starkly fixed on compassion and charity, morals and values I don't normally associate with Wilde, and the end is dramatic and Biblical, but not so much as to make me roll my eyes. It was acceptable.

"The Nightingale and the Rose" was terrible. And far too realistic. And also justified all the side-eyes I've always given to the idea of love.

"The Selfish Giant" just plain made me angry. These children are trespassing on the Giant's land. He was absolutely right to put up the NO TRESPASSING SIGN and threaten legal action. It is HIS garden. He can do whatever he wants with it, even let it just sit there. Those little bastard children would have stayed off his land if they had any manners. GET OFF HIS LAWN YOU LITTLE TROLLS. I have to wonder, though, if my feelings here are strongly influenced by the fact that I am an American. Our legal system allows for adverse possession, where if you don't use your land and someone else comes onto it and puts it to better use, the land is there after a given number of uninterrupted years. In America, we have always prized putting land to use. In England, historically, there was no such thing as adverse possession: even if land sat unoccupied and untended to for decades, that was just fine, because the owner had a right to do what he wanted with it, even if didn't want to do anything with it. So I was thinking halfway through the story that maybe Wilde was criticizing that policy and advocating a more American treatment of land use.

But then it turned out to be a story about Christ, so that shut me up.

"The Devoted Friend" just made me angry. It's basically why I don't associate with people. People are jackwagons. And I've seen the scenario in the story play out far too many times in my life (not involving me) to be anything but jaded about it.

"The Remarkable Rocket" was amazing. I hated the rocket so much, but this story is full of great little turns of phrase that are so typical of the Wilde I always thought I knew. It was a satisfying read if you are given to notions about karma and comeuppance, as I often am. Not always, but often enough.

Overall, I'd recommend this book if you're interested in seeing a new side of Wilde that's a bit removed from the perverse and dejected brilliance of "Dorian Gray" and not so sly and sprightly as "Ernest." (less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2011 Malak Alrashed rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wilde Wilde Wide, what would I have done without your awesome books?

This book has five short- kinda childish stories all are awesomely-written and all got a moral or two..
Despite the fact that these stories were written for children - and by that I mean there's animals and inanimate objects talking-, I couldn't stop myself from not getting too emotional with the characters and the sarcasm each story ended with.

As usual Oscar discuses social-psychological thoughts and that whatever one does he\...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 05, 2009 Endah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Salah satu kelebihan dongeng adalah ia lintas waktu dan lintas usia. Dongeng yang kita kenal sekarang mungkin saja berasal dari abad yang silam. Karya-karya Hans Christian Andersen, umpamanya, telah dikenal sejak zaman nenek kakek kita dan masih tetap memukau bagi anak-cucu kita sekarang.

Dongeng bukan saja bacaan bagi anak-anak tetapi juga digemari orang dewasa. Pesan moral dan hikmah yang terkandung dalam setiap kisahnya (tentang kebaikan dan kejahatan), akan selalu relevan sepanjang masa. Jara...more Salah satu kelebihan dongeng adalah ia lintas waktu dan lintas usia. Dongeng yang kita kenal sekarang mungkin saja berasal dari abad yang silam. Karya-karya Hans Christian Andersen, umpamanya, telah dikenal sejak zaman nenek kakek kita dan masih tetap memukau bagi anak-cucu kita sekarang.

Dongeng bukan saja bacaan bagi anak-anak tetapi juga digemari orang dewasa. Pesan moral dan hikmah yang terkandung dalam setiap kisahnya (tentang kebaikan dan kejahatan), akan selalu relevan sepanjang masa. Jarang ada wilayah abu-abu dalam dongeng. Semuanya harus jelas dan tegas : hitam atau putih.

Dengan cara mendongeng, pengarang dimungkinkan untuk berkisah tentang apa saja, dari hal-hal yang real hingga soal-soal absurd serbamustahil. Semua jadi tampak sah jika dibungkus dalam kemasan dongeng.

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900) adalah salah satu sastrawan Inggris termasyhur yang banyak menulis dongeng. Setidaknya ada sembilan yang termuat dalam buku Pangeran yang Selalu Bahagia ini (diterjemahkan dari The Happy Prince and Other Stories)

Terbit pertama kali di Inggris pada 1888, buku ini berisi dongeng-dongeng indah yang sengaja ditulis oleh Wilde untuk kedua orang putra tercintanya, Vyvyan dan Cecil.

Oscar Wilde sendiri lahir di Dublin dari sebuah keluarga seniman, meraih ketenaran di Oxford dan kemudian London, Inggris. Sebelum terjun serius ke dunia sastra, ia dikenal sebagai seniman dengan citra buruknya : berambut gondrong, berpakaian modis dengan gaya nyentrik serta selalu memegang setangkai bunga yang untuk ukuran masa itu tidak lazim.

Dengan bebas Wilde memainkan imajinasi melalui tokoh-tokoh rekaan yang sangat akrab bagi kanak-kanak dalam dongeng-dongengnya ini, sehingga ada patung yang menangis, orang kerdil, putri duyung, raksasa yang egois, roket yang sombong, dan bunga mawar yang pandai bicara. Membaca dongeng berarti kita telah menyiapkan diri untuk masuk ke satu wilayah/dunia serbamustahil. Jadi, jangan coba-coba tanyakan logikanya.

Ada satu dongeng di buku ini yang amat mirip dengan kisah Malin Kundang, yaitu Anak Bintang. Ceritanya tentang anak yang durhaka kepada ibu kandungnya. Akibatnya anak itu dikutuk serta harus menjalani ujian penderitaan sebelum akhirnya hidup bahagia selamanya.

Umumnya kisah-kisah Wilde ini gampang dicerna, kecuali Nelayan dan Jiwanya, agak sedikit filosofis dan "berat" untuk sebuah dongeng kanak-kanak.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Poiema rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, fantasy

Oscar Wilde wrote great fairy tales. I like them even better than traditional fairy tales--quality literature and less dark than Grimm's. My hands-down favorite is "The Selfish Giant" and we read it every Easter season even though most of us are now grown up. I think grown ups appreciate a good fairy tale and perhaps need them even more than children do :) My favorite lines from "The Selfish Giant" are the final ones:

"Who hath dared to wound thee?" cried the Giant; "tell me, that I may take my...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Eman Al-Khaldi rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone.

This is my first read for Oscar Wilde, and it won't be the last. It's combined of 5 short stories, each story carries a moral at the end of it. I'm not sure if this book is appropriate to be narrated for kids at bedtime, because (view spoiler).

- The Happy Prince (3 stars, liked it)
- The Nightingale and the Rose (4 stars, really really liked it and...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Such indelibly beautiful language in these stories. I found them to be very charming, and not at all simplistic or dumbed down. They make some poignant commentaries on academia, and in language that's consistent with traditional children's fairytales, as though to say how obvious these observations are, even a child can see! Reading these as an adult who recently graduated from university, I found my heart breaking a little with each story, partly for their tragic beauty and partly for the loss...more

like · see review

Jan 04, 2013 Judy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: children and anyone who enjoys a good morality story

Recommended to Judy by: another bookcrosser

Shelves: children, my-2013-books

These are every creative stories in which all of the inanimate objects and non-human creatures speak and have their own distinct personalities that are all too human. I enjoyed all of the stories. "The Selfish Giant" is a great story until the distinctly Christian ending. I wonder if this ending is left out in the more modern version? The tales are all fables or morality stories. "The Happy Prince" tells of a selfish swallow who is inspired to selfless acts. "The Nightingale and the Rose" is an...more

like · see review

Nov 15, 2007 Keely Hyslop rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: short-stories

I never knew that beneath Oscar Wilde's glib persona was a hopeless and wounded romantic. Half of these stories are utterly heart breaking, but they're also beautifully written and remark upon a few of the more unfortunate aspects of society that are still pertinent issues today. Brace yourself for terrible things happening to good people who are then rewarded in the afterlife after they die tragically, but other than that enjoy a "good read".

like · see review

Mar 03, 2013 destinugrainy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anthology, children, classic, fiction, translated, pernah-punya

Buku Pangeran Nan Bahagia ini adalah kumpulan dongeng klasik, yang mempunyai gaya bertutur yang unik, tapi penuh dengan pesan. Di dalamnya terdapat 5 cerita pendek, antara lain: Pangeran Nan Bahagia (The Happy Prince), Burung Bulbul dan Bunga Mawar (The Nightingale and the Rose), Raksasa yang Suka Mementingkan Diri Sendiri (The Selfish Giant), Teman Yang Setia (The Devoted Friend), dan Roket yang Hebat (The Remarkable Rocket).

Pangeran Nan Bahagia bercerita tentang sebuah patung yang dikenal deng...more Buku Pangeran Nan Bahagia ini adalah kumpulan dongeng klasik, yang mempunyai gaya bertutur yang unik, tapi penuh dengan pesan. Di dalamnya terdapat 5 cerita pendek, antara lain: Pangeran Nan Bahagia (The Happy Prince), Burung Bulbul dan Bunga Mawar (The Nightingale and the Rose), Raksasa yang Suka Mementingkan Diri Sendiri (The Selfish Giant), Teman Yang Setia (The Devoted Friend), dan Roket yang Hebat (The Remarkable Rocket).

Pangeran Nan Bahagia bercerita tentang sebuah patung yang dikenal dengan nama Pangeran Nan Bahagia. Tubuh patung bersalut emas, dengan mata dari batu nilam langka dan pedang yang memili hiasan permata delima. Semua orang mengagumi patung itu. Suatu waktu ada seekor burung layang-layang yang tertinggal dari kawanannya menumpang di kaki patung itu untuk beristirahat. Ternyata patung yang bahagia itu sedang menangisi berbagai kemalangan yang dialami oleh masyarakat kota. Dia ingin membantu, tetapi tidak bisa berpindah tempat. Dia meminta burung layang-layang membantunya, meskipun itu membuat penampilan si patung akan berubah. Banyak yang mengatakan bahwa kisah Pangeran Nan Bahagia ditujukan kepada pemerintah dan ketidaksetaraan yang terjadi di dalam masyarakat. Seharusnya pemerintah mampu membantu masyakarat yang kekurangan dan membutuhkan pertolongan.

Burung Bulbul dan Bunga Mawar bercerita tentang kesetiaan dan pengorbanan. Demi seorang pemuda yang ingin mempersembahkan setangkai mawar merah kepada seorang gadis, seekor burung bulbul rela mengorbankan nyawanya. Tetapi ketika gadis itu menolak bunga pemberian pemuda tadi, bunga mawar tadi berakhir di jalan dan terinjak-injak oleh kendaraan yang lewat.

Raksasa yang Suka Mementingkan Diri Sendiri mempunyai sebuah taman dengan bunga-bunga yang cantik. Anak-anak suka bermain di sana. Tetapi raksasa itu tidak ingin tamannya rusak sehingga dia mengusir anak-anak itu dari tamannya. Musim dingin pun datang dan tidak mau pergi, tamannya menjadi tidak indah lagi. Raksasa merindukan musim semi. Suatu waktu dia mendengar ada nyanyian yang datang dari tamannya. Raksasa berpikir musim semi sudah datang. Ternyata disana ada banyak anak-anak. Raksasa kemudian menyadari keegoisannya dan menyadari bahwa anak-anaklah yang akan datang membawa musim semi. Kisah ini mengajarkan tentang berbagi dan tidak menutup diri dari orang lain. Karena kebahagiaan bisa saja berasal dari orang-orang di sekitar kita.

Teman yang Setia adalah kisah yang paling saya sukai. Menceritakan tentang seorang lelaki kecil yang jujur bernama Hans dan seorang juragan giling. Juragan giling ini sering sekali bercerita tentang persahabatan, dan semua ceritanya dinikmati oleh Hans. Hans sampai percaya akan kebaikan tuan juragan giling. Sayangnya Hans selalu diperdaya oleh juragan giling yang sifatnya tidak bersahabat sama sekali. Kisah ini mengajarkan bahwa sifat baik itu bukanlah dari kata-kata tetapi dari tindakan sekecil apapun itu.

Roket yang Hebat adalah kisah terakhir yang menceritakan tentang sebuah roket yang sombong. Di antara kembang api dan mercon lainnya, roket ini paling banyak bicara. Tetapi pada malam pertunjukan dia tidak digunakan karena bubuk mesiu-nya basah. Hingga akhirnya dia hanya menjadi mainan anak-anak dan bukan digunakan untuk pertunjukan akbar. Pesan moralnya adalah bahwa banyak bicara tanpa melakukan tugas adalah hal yang sia-sia.

Kisah-kisah dari Oscar Wilde adalah contoh tentang bagaimana sastra anak tidak harus kekanak-kanakan. Oscar Wilde mampu menanamkan pesan moral dalam ceritanya, tapi tidak secara terbuka. Bahkan ketika telah berusia ratusan tahun, kisah-kisah ini tetap populer dan bisa terus hadir dari generasi ke generasi.(less)

like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Charles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood-classics, favourites, wilde

Cyril (Oscar Wilde's son) once asked his father why he had tears in his eyes when he told him ,and his brother Vyvyan Holland, the story of the Selfish Giant-to which Wilde responded "Beautiful things always make me cry"

When I was but eight years old when I first read 'The Happy Prince' I remember that when I first read it I could not help shedding a few tears.
Recently I had the opportunity to read it again. Guess what? Yup, I shed some tears again. The ending especially is so beautiful that on...more Cyril (Oscar Wilde's son) once asked his father why he had tears in his eyes when he told him ,and his brother Vyvyan Holland, the story of the Selfish Giant-to which Wilde responded "Beautiful things always make me cry"

When I was but eight years old when I first read 'The Happy Prince' I remember that when I first read it I could not help shedding a few tears.
Recently I had the opportunity to read it again. Guess what? Yup, I shed some tears again. The ending especially is so beautiful that one cannot help it. The rest (of the tales),though not quite as beautiful as 'The Happy Prince', are still engaging ,morally and otherwise. They also tend to be longer in length. The last tale -'The Fisherman and his soul'- is quite tedious for it is quite lengthy, yet still with a beautiful ending. Indeed there is much to chew on here, and I think Wilde is pointing that none of us ,neither the good nor the bad, know what love is really about except for those who follow their heart. However the priest in the end , although initially condemning the youth, manages to bring himself to bless the burial where the fisherman and his mermaid where buried, unlike the witch (whom represents evil-at one point calling on the devil) who soon forgot him despite her interest in him in the beginning, which just underlines that physical and sexual desire alone are not enough for they are temporary in nature. The Good ,while initially none the wiser than evil on what exactly is love, as represented by the priest; shows moral development in his character. Good 1 Evil 0. Good for the priest!

All of 'Oscar's Fables' ,as I like to call this book and these tales, are extraordinary (just like the author himself). Tales with a difference, each highlighting a different theme (eg. vanity in 'The Remarkable Rocket and so on). 'The Birthday of the Infanta' is my second favorite for always makes me feel so sorry for the poor hunchback, who believed in unconditional love, much like the rest of us. Unfortunately realists beg to differ. This tale end on a tragic note and it makes me really emotional. One cannot not mention 'The Nightingale and the Rose'- another beautiful tale, which deservingly inspired so many superb musical pieces and operas. Really emotional, tries to understand the sadness of those who take love for granted, those so called scholars whose knowledge extends only to the reach of their textbooks. With all his textbooks of Metaphysics, the scolar does not have one that dares to touch on the deep theme of 'Love'(those who read the tale will understand). Even though this book was written in 1888, the same applies to nowadays. Like Doctor Faustus before us, we fail to realize that love cannot be read or bought, only deserved especially for those who know that love has the uncomfortable side to it too.

Oscar's Fables remain enthralling both for the young and old alike, and a must read ,I believe, for children. One of the reasons for the degeneration of society is that the youth of today are not being exposed to such books at an early age. I fear that reading is becoming a thing of the past. I for one, owe a lot to many of the wonderful children authors (Oscar Wilde in this case, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl-to mention but three) that shared their experiences ,through imaginative and fantastical wit, with the children of their times. The focus of Wilde ,however, is on certain morals while maintaining a certain approach to children (as discussed previously). The principal reason why I gave it 5/5 is that for its time (1888) it discussed certain themes in a way that is still approachable and engaging for children today (if they stop playing Black Ops 2 and grab a book, that is).

Scoring:
1) The Happy Prince 9/10 (Favorite)
2) The Selfish Giant 8/10
3) The Devoted Friend 8/10
4) The Remarkable Rocket 7.5/10
5) The Nightingale and the rose 8.5/10 (tied 2nd place)
6) The Young King 8.5/10
7) The Birthday of the Infanta 8.5/10 (2nd)
8) The Star Child 8/10
9) The Fisherman and his Soul 8.5/10

Overall-8.5/10=5/5

(less)

like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-literature

At first I thought these stories were for childen because I think he meant them to be; he wrote them for his two little boys, but when I tried reading one with Matthew, he didn't get the wit of Wilde.

While not all of the fairy tales in this book are created equally - some are better than others, I do so love to read Oscar Wilde. He makes me laugh at the human condition.

Two of my favorite passages from the book:
"They did not understand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matte...more

like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Titis Wardhana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jadi inget dulu pas SD, pernah baca Pangeran Bahagia di majalah anak-anak. Waktu itu ceritanya gak sepanjang yang di buku ini, en gw inget kalau gw baca cerita itu berulang-ulang secara gw suka banget. Cerpen yang paling gw suka di buku ini Pangeran Bahagia dan Raksasa yang Egois.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Eliza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: easy-reading, rec-with-a-grain-of-salt

Wanted it mainly for the Happy Prince, which is beautiful. I always thought it was a classic fairy tale, and knowing that it was by Wilde romanticized it a bit. All the stories address the duplicity of human nature, from hypocrisy to vanity, from ignorance to pretention, which is nice, though frustrating at times, because none of them have happy endings, which serve as a reminder for further thought, because life never ends at the end of any fairy tale. Cinderella's prince still had to rule a ki...more

like · see review

Mar 16, 2011 Grace added it

A bit too whimsical for my liking, but it's not to say that such has in turn compromised the prose. I especially enjoyed his personification in The Selfish Giant.

1 like · like · see review

Dec 22, 2012 Anne Nikoline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Anne Nikoline by: no one

Shelves: british-literature, childrens-litterature, classics, ebook, fairy-tales, fiction, read-in-2012, short-stories-and-novellas, 19th-century

Oscar Wilde is a treat and his The Happy Prince and Other Tales is no exception. This book contains in my opinion some the very best of Wilde's fairy tales, however, these fairy tales are much darker and each has a very meaning message to send. The most beautiful, The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose and The Selfish Gian, are all about death, but each an everyone of them is magically written:"'The Earth is going to be married, and this is her bridal dress,' whispered the Turtle-doves t...more

like · see review

Jan 14, 2009 Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wilde does some pretty groovy fables. The Selfish Giant is my fave but none of them are to be sneezed at.

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (116)

More editions...

Genres

Classics

93 users

Short Stories

63 users

Fantasy

29 users

Childrens

23 users

Fantasy > Fairy Tales

17 users

Literature > 19th Century

17 users

Literature

12 users

Literature > English Literature

8 users

European Literature > British Literature

7 users

European Literature > Irish Literature

6 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being E...more

More about Oscar Wilde...

Books by Oscar Wilde

The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Happy Prince ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Happy Prince and O...

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.” — 40,740 people liked it

“Any place you love is the world to you.” — 24 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Happy Prince and Other Tales
avg rating	preview: The Happy Prince and Other Tales Goodreads rating: 4.12 (3093 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/779021.The_Happy_Prince_and_Other_Tales?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320435766l/779021.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/779021.The_Happy_Prince_and_Other_Tales?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde[/url]

The Happy Prince and Other Tales

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website