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Oscar Wilde: Complete Shorter Fiction
‘I can not think otherwise than in stories.’
By all accounts the stories we know today represent only a fraction of those with which Oscar Wilde enchanted his listeners. Now for the first time in one volume we have a complete collection of all the short fiction he published and it clearly shows his versatility and skill as a storyteller, too often overshadowed by his reputation as dramatist, critical theorist, and novelist.
This new edition includes contains such well-known fairy tales as 'The Happy Prince,' 'The Young King', and 'The Fisherman and his Soul'; witty social and literary parody in 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' and identification of the mysterious dedicatee of Shakespeare's Sonnets, and some of the parables he most characteristically delivered, which he called 'Poems in Prose'.
By all accounts the stories we know today represent only a fraction of those with which Oscar Wilde enchanted his listeners. Now for the first time in one volume we have a complete collection of all the short fiction he published and it clearly shows his versatility and skill as a storyteller, too often overshadowed by his reputation as dramatist, critical theorist, and novelist.
This new edition includes contains such well-known fairy tales as 'The Happy Prince,' 'The Young King', and 'The Fisherman and his Soul'; witty social and literary parody in 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' and identification of the mysterious dedicatee of Shakespeare's Sonnets, and some of the parables he most characteristically delivered, which he called 'Poems in Prose'.
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1894
About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,090 books36.5k followersOscar 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 Earnest.
As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.
As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
October 27, 2024
Oh Oscar why did they treat you so bad?
And wasn’t Lord Alfred Douglas a cad
For leaving you stranded all by yourself
Sad as a book without reader or shelf?
When the gavel came down smack on the table
And six prosecutors clad in their sable
Robes shook their wigs and pointed at you
Twisting your words to make them untrue
You hung down your head and felt so much shame
—You who had climbed the summits of fame!—
That you were just ready to give up your name
And set everything you stood for aflame
My dear Oscar Wilde you were so good with words
But not good enough to counter the herds
Of ignorant stupid prejudiced haters
Who parade as men but who are just praters
Ready to condemn anyone they can
For veering from what is considered a man
But these so well-dressed educated people
Were not even fit to paint a church steeple
Let alone stand in the same room as you
As you lay on your deathbed deep in some rue
Fighting in Paris with ugly wallpaper
All drab and lit up by a single taper
But what seems above all not so absurd
Is that you in the end would have the last word
And the idiots who once called you a kook
Shamefully and forever live on in your book
August 11, 2022
These short stories, collectively and individually, are brilliant and clearly demonstrate Oscar Wilde’s genius, his versatility and his skill as a writer.
Read
January 18, 2022"Ruh, ıssız kumsalda durup onları seyretti." (s.108)
Son derece sıcak, bilgelikle yüklü, keyifli öyküler ve masallar bunlar. Çocukluğumda okuduğum rengarenk dünyalara kapımı açan masal kitaplarını hatırlattı bana. Bu vesileyle tekrar çocukluğuma dönmemi sağladı.
Öykülerin kimi zaman hüznü aynı zamanda mizahi unsurlarla kaynaştırabilmesi büyük bir edebi dehayı gösteriyor. Özellikle "hortlak" temalı öyküyü (ya da masalı) okurken çok eğlendim. Bu öyküde satır aralarında aynı zamanda Amerikan dünya görüşü ile İngiliz dünya görüşünü karşılaştırması dikkatimden kaçmadı.
Nar Evi başlıklı masaldaki renkli dünya; bana Binbir Gece Masalları'nı hatırlattı. Yorumumu bu öyküden bir bölüm ile bitirmek istiyorum:
"Kentin içi aynı bir çarşıya benzer. Keşke benimle birlikte olsaydın. Dar sokaklara gerilmi�� rengarenk kağıt fenerler, iri kelebekler gibi oynaşır. Rüzgar damların üstünden estiği zaman, fenerler renkli su kabarcıkları gibi yükselip alçalır. Esnaf, dükkanların önünde, ipek halılar üzerinde oturur. Uzun siyah sakalları vardır, sarıkları altın pullarla kaplıdır ve serin parmaklarının arasından, kehribar boncuklu uzun tespihlerini kaydırırlar." (s.114)
Son derece sıcak, bilgelikle yüklü, keyifli öyküler ve masallar bunlar. Çocukluğumda okuduğum rengarenk dünyalara kapımı açan masal kitaplarını hatırlattı bana. Bu vesileyle tekrar çocukluğuma dönmemi sağladı.
Öykülerin kimi zaman hüznü aynı zamanda mizahi unsurlarla kaynaştırabilmesi büyük bir edebi dehayı gösteriyor. Özellikle "hortlak" temalı öyküyü (ya da masalı) okurken çok eğlendim. Bu öyküde satır aralarında aynı zamanda Amerikan dünya görüşü ile İngiliz dünya görüşünü karşılaştırması dikkatimden kaçmadı.
Nar Evi başlıklı masaldaki renkli dünya; bana Binbir Gece Masalları'nı hatırlattı. Yorumumu bu öyküden bir bölüm ile bitirmek istiyorum:
"Kentin içi aynı bir çarşıya benzer. Keşke benimle birlikte olsaydın. Dar sokaklara gerilmi�� rengarenk kağıt fenerler, iri kelebekler gibi oynaşır. Rüzgar damların üstünden estiği zaman, fenerler renkli su kabarcıkları gibi yükselip alçalır. Esnaf, dükkanların önünde, ipek halılar üzerinde oturur. Uzun siyah sakalları vardır, sarıkları altın pullarla kaplıdır ve serin parmaklarının arasından, kehribar boncuklu uzun tespihlerini kaydırırlar." (s.114)
November 18, 2017
Sonra Kırlangıç yeniden uçup Mutlu Prens’in yanına döndü ve ona yaptığını anlattı. “Garip şey,” dedi, “içim sımsıcak, oysa hava ne kadar soğuk.”
Ne kadar güzel öykü ve masallardı onlar öyle...
Bak bu böyle böyle yapmış, sen sakın yapma, hııı! gibi bir his uyandırmadan farkındalık yaratabilen bir özelliğe sahip.
“Nereyi seversen orası senin dünyandır,” diye atıldı, hüzünlü bir çarkıfelek; gençliğinde eski bir köknar kutuya bağlanmıştı; kalbi kırıktı ve bununla gurur duyardı. “Ama aşkın modası geçti artık, şairler öldürdü aşkı. Aşk hakkında o kadar çok şey yazdılar ki, kimse onlara inanmaz oldu; bence çok normal. Gerçek âşık acı çeker ve susar. Hatırlıyorum da, ben bir zamanlar... Ama artık önemi kalmadı. Sevda maziye karıştı.”
En beğendiğim Vefalı Dost oldu.
March 4, 2018
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime - Lord Arthur Savile, is introduced by Lady Windermere to Mr Septimus R. Podgers, a chiromantist, who reads his palm and tells him that it is his destiny to be a murderer. (4 stars)
The Sphinx without a Secret - When Lord Muchison catches sight of a mysterious and beautiful lady in a carriage on London's Bond Street, he is captivated and spends the next few days on the lookout for her again. (3 stars)
The Canterville Ghost - (3 stars)
The Model Millionaire - Hughie Erskine has a problem. He is madly in love with Laura Merton, but both of them are flat broke and unable to marry. Then a beggar makes an appearance. (2 stars)
The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates collections are reviewed here (4 stars)
The Portrait of Mr. W. H. - (4 stars)
Poems in Prose
The Artist, The Disciple, The Master, The House of Judgement, The Teacher of Wisdom (3 stars)
The Doer of Good (4 stars)
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime - Lord Arthur Savile, is introduced by Lady Windermere to Mr Septimus R. Podgers, a chiromantist, who reads his palm and tells him that it is his destiny to be a murderer. (4 stars)
The Sphinx without a Secret - When Lord Muchison catches sight of a mysterious and beautiful lady in a carriage on London's Bond Street, he is captivated and spends the next few days on the lookout for her again. (3 stars)
The Canterville Ghost - (3 stars)
The Model Millionaire - Hughie Erskine has a problem. He is madly in love with Laura Merton, but both of them are flat broke and unable to marry. Then a beggar makes an appearance. (2 stars)
The Happy Prince and Other Tales and A House of Pomegranates collections are reviewed here (4 stars)
The Portrait of Mr. W. H. - (4 stars)
Poems in Prose
The Artist, The Disciple, The Master, The House of Judgement, The Teacher of Wisdom (3 stars)
The Doer of Good (4 stars)
March 22, 2009
i don't think i've ever used the word "exquisite" before, especially in relation to anyone's writing, but the writing in these stories really is exquisite. the stories themselves are flawlessly conceived and executed; every other line a perfect quotable paradox. my only complaint is that it all got a little claustrophobic after all. so perfect, so finely-wrought, so heartbreakingly sad, so clever... it was all just a little bit too just-so. there are no car chases, no fistfights, no people yelling in the streets, no drunks screaming off bridges into the night... for all the talk of obscenity and decadence that surrounds wilde's name, he really is an exceedingly tasteful and polite writer. sorta made me want to go bowling.
best parts: the half-page prose poem "the artist," the scooby-dooish "canterville ghost," and this horrifying tale about a little bird who presses its breast against a thorn in order to make the roses red...
best parts: the half-page prose poem "the artist," the scooby-dooish "canterville ghost," and this horrifying tale about a little bird who presses its breast against a thorn in order to make the roses red...
June 15, 2017
বেড়ে লাগছে।
ওয়াইল্ডের একটা বৈশিষ্ট্য একটু প্রকট, আপনি সচরাচর পুরুষ চরিত্রের এত উদ্দীপক বর্ণনা পাবেন না, বিশেষত দৈহিক। ডোরিয়ান গ্রে-র ক্ষেত্রে এমনটা ছিলো, এখানেও দেখা গেছে বারবার।
কিন্তু আরো প্রকট বৈশিষ্ট্য, আমার মনে হয়েছে তার সৌন্দর্য্যবোধ। ইংরেজি যতখানি পড়েছি, ওয়াইল্ডের ভাষা আমার পড়া সেরাগুলির একটা হবে।
লর্ড আর্থার স্যাভিলের শেষ গল্প বাদে বাকী তিনখান, সুখী রাজকুমারের সব কয়টা, ডালিমবাড়ির মাঝের দুইটা, বিশেষ করে জন্মদিনেরটা অসাধারণ, অসাধারণ। শেষের পাঁচটা গদ্যকাব্য (গল্পই ত বোধ হলো), এরাও অসাধারণ ঠেকেছে আমার কাছে, দিব্যি।
অনেকের মরালিস্ট মনে হতে পারে। কিন্তু হলো না হয়। ভাষার কী কেরদানী রে বাবা। কী ঝঙ্কার!
এইখানে ওয়াইল্ড সাহেবের প্রায় সব লেখা পেলাম, পত্রাদি আর প্রবন্ধ বাদে, আগ্রহীরা ঘেটে দেখতে পারেন। আগ্রহী হন, ওয়াইল্ড ভালো।
ওয়াইল্ডের একটা বৈশিষ্ট্য একটু প্রকট, আপনি সচরাচর পুরুষ চরিত্রের এত উদ্দীপক বর্ণনা পাবেন না, বিশেষত দৈহিক। ডোরিয়ান গ্রে-র ক্ষেত্রে এমনটা ছিলো, এখানেও দেখা গেছে বারবার।
কিন্তু আরো প্রকট বৈশিষ্ট্য, আমার মনে হয়েছে তার সৌন্দর্য্যবোধ। ইংরেজি যতখানি পড়েছি, ওয়াইল্ডের ভাষা আমার পড়া সেরাগুলির একটা হবে।
লর্ড আর্থার স্যাভিলের শেষ গল্প বাদে বাকী তিনখান, সুখী রাজকুমারের সব কয়টা, ডালিমবাড়ির মাঝের দুইটা, বিশেষ করে জন্মদিনেরটা অসাধারণ, অসাধারণ। শেষের পাঁচটা গদ্যকাব্য (গল্পই ত বোধ হলো), এরাও অসাধারণ ঠেকেছে আমার কাছে, দিব্যি।
অনেকের মরালিস্ট মনে হতে পারে। কিন্তু হলো না হয়। ভাষার কী কেরদানী রে বাবা। কী ঝঙ্কার!
এইখানে ওয়াইল্ড সাহেবের প্রায় সব লেখা পেলাম, পত্রাদি আর প্রবন্ধ বাদে, আগ্রহীরা ঘেটে দেখতে পারেন। আগ্রহী হন, ওয়াইল্ড ভালো।
November 8, 2024
I've picked away at this collection over the years, which includes a number of prose poems. Having just completed "The Fisherman and his Soul" (Wilde's longest work of short fiction) I now feel that I have read this whole collection.
There is quite the range here, everything from tales often considered to be for children, such as "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant", as well as a deep dive into the mysteries of Shakespeare's muse, "The Portrait of Mr. W.H."
There is a strong fairy tale quality to most of these short pieces, tales of princes and giants, of nightingales and young kings. There are even a couple of ghost stories.
There is quite the range here, everything from tales often considered to be for children, such as "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant", as well as a deep dive into the mysteries of Shakespeare's muse, "The Portrait of Mr. W.H."
There is a strong fairy tale quality to most of these short pieces, tales of princes and giants, of nightingales and young kings. There are even a couple of ghost stories.
January 20, 2022
oscar wilde'ın masallarının ve mensur şiirlerinin toplandığı eser. okuması kolay, dinlendirici, terapi etkisi yaratan çok hoş bir derleme olmuş.
masal türünün tüm özelliklerini taşıyan ve güzel bir biçimde yansıtan eserleri bir çırpıda okuyup bitirmek mümkün. tek bir masal yoktu okurken sıkıldığım.
evrensel doğruları, karşılıksız iyiliği, beklentisiz sevgiyi ve bu gibi genelgeçer erdemleri konu alan masallar okudukça yüzünüzde bir tebessüm bırakıyor.
türün yapısı gereği çok fazla edebi kaygı barındırmadığı için okumaya başlarken bunun bir masal kitabı olduğunu unutmayın.
masal türünün tüm özelliklerini taşıyan ve güzel bir biçimde yansıtan eserleri bir çırpıda okuyup bitirmek mümkün. tek bir masal yoktu okurken sıkıldığım.
evrensel doğruları, karşılıksız iyiliği, beklentisiz sevgiyi ve bu gibi genelgeçer erdemleri konu alan masallar okudukça yüzünüzde bir tebessüm bırakıyor.
türün yapısı gereği çok fazla edebi kaygı barındırmadığı için okumaya başlarken bunun bir masal kitabı olduğunu unutmayın.
July 5, 2018
Oscar Wilde'a duyduğum hayranlığı dünyada kimseye duymuyorumdur herhalde. Neticede okuduğum en iyi kitabın (Dorian Gray'in Portresi) yazarı! Nezdimdeki olağanüstü yüksek kredisine rağmen ne yazık ki bu derlemenin sonunu zor getirdim. Hikayelerini de masallarını da genel olarak sevmedim. Elbette tipik Wilde alaycılığının bol kahkahalı enfes örneklerine, ışıl ışıl birey ve toplum eleştirilerine yer yer rastlayıp hayranlığınızı sürdürecek rüzgarı yakalıyorsunuz ama eserin genel düzeyi insana hiç de yeterli gelmiyor. Belki de beklentim çok yüksek olduğundan böyle oldu.
Sondaki mensur şiirler ise tek kelimeyle harikaydı. Ne yazık ki çok kısalar ve sayıları çok az. Kitabın çok küçük bir kısmını teşkil ediyorlar. Onların dimağımda bıraktığı belli belirsiz tat kitabı kurtarmaya yeterli gelmedi.
Siz siz olun, Wilde'a bu kitapla başlamayın!
Sondaki mensur şiirler ise tek kelimeyle harikaydı. Ne yazık ki çok kısalar ve sayıları çok az. Kitabın çok küçük bir kısmını teşkil ediyorlar. Onların dimağımda bıraktığı belli belirsiz tat kitabı kurtarmaya yeterli gelmedi.
Siz siz olun, Wilde'a bu kitapla başlamayın!
November 1, 2021
I almost can't believe how much I didn't enjoy most of these stories. And I wasn't aware how Christian Oscar Wilde was.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Happy Prince: ★★★☆☆
The Nightingale and The Rose: ★★☆☆☆
The Selfish Giant: ★★☆☆☆
The Devoted Friend: ★★☆☆☆
The Remarkable Rocket: ★☆☆☆☆
The Portrait of Mr. W. H.
The Portrait of Mr. W. H.: ★★★☆☆
A House of Pomegranates
The Young King: ★☆☆☆☆
The Birthday of the Infanta: ★☆☆☆☆
The Fisherman and His Soul: ★☆☆☆☆
The Star Child: ★★☆☆☆
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime: ★★★★☆
The Sphinx Without a Secret: ★★☆☆☆
The Canterville Ghost: ★★★☆☆
The Model Millionaire: ★★★★☆
Poems in Prose: ★☆☆☆☆
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Happy Prince: ★★★☆☆
The Nightingale and The Rose: ★★☆☆☆
The Selfish Giant: ★★☆☆☆
The Devoted Friend: ★★☆☆☆
The Remarkable Rocket: ★☆☆☆☆
The Portrait of Mr. W. H.
The Portrait of Mr. W. H.: ★★★☆☆
A House of Pomegranates
The Young King: ★☆☆☆☆
The Birthday of the Infanta: ★☆☆☆☆
The Fisherman and His Soul: ★☆☆☆☆
The Star Child: ★★☆☆☆
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime: ★★★★☆
The Sphinx Without a Secret: ★★☆☆☆
The Canterville Ghost: ★★★☆☆
The Model Millionaire: ★★★★☆
Poems in Prose: ★☆☆☆☆
November 24, 2016
Toplu Öyküler genel olarak güzel bir kitaptı, bazı hikayeleri çok sevdim, bazılarını ise sevdiğimi pek söyleyemem. Benim öykü türü ile aram pek iyi değil, seviyorum ama uzunca roman okumak öncelikli tercihim. Kitap güzeldi, ince taşlamalar, zekice ayrıntılar vardı ancak çok iyi bulmadım ben, biraz eksik yönleri vardı öykülerin. Özellikle sona doğru yer alan hikayeler fazla masalsı ve çocuk yaştaki insanlara uygundu. Yine de Oscar Wilde'ın öykülerini okumak isteyenlere tavsiye ederim. Zaten kitabın dili çok akıcı, sayfalar hızla akıyor gidiyor.
Daha fazlası için; http://yorumatolyesi.blogspot.com/201...
Daha fazlası için; http://yorumatolyesi.blogspot.com/201...
March 12, 2022
one of the best collections of short stories i’ve read we love you gay boy wilde
April 19, 2024
3.5 stars
Complete Short Fiction is a collection of Oscar Wilde’s children’s stories, crime fiction, ghost stories, and poems. Wilde’s wit shines so bright in his short fiction works. This collection reminded me why Wilde is one of my favorite writers of all time.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888)
The Happy Prince is an important story that sheds light on poverty during the Victorian era. It’s a gentle reminder to help those in need. The act of giving can be more fulfilling than any material luxury.
The Nightingale and The Rose is a cute tale about love, faith, and sacrifice.
The Selfish Giant is a story about the importance of friendship and generosity.
The Devoted Friend broke my heart!! There’s no way children used to read this story before bed. Wilde tore my heart in two with a few pages.
The Remarkable Rocket is one of my favorite stories in this section. Wilde warns readers about the dangers of a massively inflated ego. It’s cute and witty, stories like this remind me why I love Oscar Wilde.
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The Portrait of Mr. W.H. (1889)
I enjoyed The Portrait of Mr. W.H. very much! Wilde explores themes of obsession and the power of art. Honestly, there’s nothing more I can ask for.
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A House of Pomegranates (1891)
The Young King has one of the strongest morals in this collection. This story explores how the rich exploit the poor for their own desires. Need I say more?
The Birthday of the Infanta is a fun story about a spoiled princess. It wasn’t my favorite, but I enjoyed the themes.
The Fisherman and His Soul is a tale about love, temptation, and morality among other themes. Wilde packed many messages within this short story, which speaks to his talent.
The Star-Child
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Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories (1891)
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime….. I don't know how I feel about this story. I wasn’t crazy about it, that’s for sure.
The Sphinx Without a Secret is about mystery, love, and obsession. Wilde crafted this story so well. I can’t say much without spoilers, but this tale is so so fun!
The Canterville Ghost is a satirical parody story that mocks the gothic/horror fiction genre. We follow an American family that moves into the haunted residence of an Englishman. Who better to tell this tale than the witty Oscar Wilde? I loved every second of this tale!
The Model Millionaire highlights a well-known and important life lesson; Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Wilde explores the importance of generosity and its balance with wealth. This story is about a few pages long, and I wanted more!
-
Poems in Prose (1894)
I expected to love this section, but I didn’t. It’s my least favorite of them all. The prose is good, but the themes weren’t for me.
Complete Short Fiction is a collection of Oscar Wilde’s children’s stories, crime fiction, ghost stories, and poems. Wilde’s wit shines so bright in his short fiction works. This collection reminded me why Wilde is one of my favorite writers of all time.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888)
The Happy Prince is an important story that sheds light on poverty during the Victorian era. It’s a gentle reminder to help those in need. The act of giving can be more fulfilling than any material luxury.
The Nightingale and The Rose is a cute tale about love, faith, and sacrifice.
The Selfish Giant is a story about the importance of friendship and generosity.
The Devoted Friend broke my heart!! There’s no way children used to read this story before bed. Wilde tore my heart in two with a few pages.
The Remarkable Rocket is one of my favorite stories in this section. Wilde warns readers about the dangers of a massively inflated ego. It’s cute and witty, stories like this remind me why I love Oscar Wilde.
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The Portrait of Mr. W.H. (1889)
I enjoyed The Portrait of Mr. W.H. very much! Wilde explores themes of obsession and the power of art. Honestly, there’s nothing more I can ask for.
-
A House of Pomegranates (1891)
The Young King has one of the strongest morals in this collection. This story explores how the rich exploit the poor for their own desires. Need I say more?
The Birthday of the Infanta is a fun story about a spoiled princess. It wasn’t my favorite, but I enjoyed the themes.
The Fisherman and His Soul is a tale about love, temptation, and morality among other themes. Wilde packed many messages within this short story, which speaks to his talent.
The Star-Child
-
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories (1891)
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime….. I don't know how I feel about this story. I wasn’t crazy about it, that’s for sure.
The Sphinx Without a Secret is about mystery, love, and obsession. Wilde crafted this story so well. I can’t say much without spoilers, but this tale is so so fun!
The Canterville Ghost is a satirical parody story that mocks the gothic/horror fiction genre. We follow an American family that moves into the haunted residence of an Englishman. Who better to tell this tale than the witty Oscar Wilde? I loved every second of this tale!
The Model Millionaire highlights a well-known and important life lesson; Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Wilde explores the importance of generosity and its balance with wealth. This story is about a few pages long, and I wanted more!
-
Poems in Prose (1894)
I expected to love this section, but I didn’t. It’s my least favorite of them all. The prose is good, but the themes weren’t for me.
March 5, 2018
Wilde Wilde shinning bring, in the literature of every time
What mortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry
What mortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry
July 31, 2010
I’ve always had a suspicion that Oscar Wilde is a prime example of style over substance. Yes the writing is arch and clever, the epigrams are well crafted and plentiful – but is there really anything else there? Is his fiction merely just an excuse for Oscar to show off his brilliant intelligence and keen wit? Is there much else going on behind that?
It’s something I raise knowing I’ll never reach a satisfactory answer, but this collection does contain examples for both the defence and the prosecution.
Take ‘The Portrait of Mr W.H.’, which is about literary theories and frauds built onto Shakespeare’s name. In other hands this could have been a serious and thoughtful essay, and whereas Wilde is bright enough to see there are serious points to be made, he mainly chooses to be flip and glib and shy away from them all. Furthermore the twists are obvious, the literary theory feels like it’s been clumsily inserted and the whole thing ends up resembling no more than the work of a clever sixth former.
But then we come to ‘Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime’, which is a cracking tale and one of the best ruminations on fate which exists in fiction. Although it’s clearly written by Wilde, it has the required seriousness to tackle the subject but also a dainty lightness in the prose. It’s a tale I greatly admire. The same is true for ‘The Canterville Ghost’, which is the kind of comic ghost story that Charles Addams or Tim Burton would enjoy. Again it’s Wilde, but hasn’t been subsumed by the Wildean.
The jury on style over substance therefore remains out.
Also of note in this collection are the children’s tales – ‘The Happy Prince’ and so on. Years after I first read them I remain unconvinced though. Yes they have their moments and there’s a nice line of cruelty within them, but they always feel somewhat pompous and sanctimonious to me. And Wilde doesn’t do hectoring all that well.
There are a number of other insubstantial sketches in this book, but the presence of ‘Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime’ and ‘The Canterville Ghost’ means that even a doubter like myself has to acknowledge that there were moments when Wilde was as brilliant as he though he was.
It’s something I raise knowing I’ll never reach a satisfactory answer, but this collection does contain examples for both the defence and the prosecution.
Take ‘The Portrait of Mr W.H.’, which is about literary theories and frauds built onto Shakespeare’s name. In other hands this could have been a serious and thoughtful essay, and whereas Wilde is bright enough to see there are serious points to be made, he mainly chooses to be flip and glib and shy away from them all. Furthermore the twists are obvious, the literary theory feels like it’s been clumsily inserted and the whole thing ends up resembling no more than the work of a clever sixth former.
But then we come to ‘Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime’, which is a cracking tale and one of the best ruminations on fate which exists in fiction. Although it’s clearly written by Wilde, it has the required seriousness to tackle the subject but also a dainty lightness in the prose. It’s a tale I greatly admire. The same is true for ‘The Canterville Ghost’, which is the kind of comic ghost story that Charles Addams or Tim Burton would enjoy. Again it’s Wilde, but hasn’t been subsumed by the Wildean.
The jury on style over substance therefore remains out.
Also of note in this collection are the children’s tales – ‘The Happy Prince’ and so on. Years after I first read them I remain unconvinced though. Yes they have their moments and there’s a nice line of cruelty within them, but they always feel somewhat pompous and sanctimonious to me. And Wilde doesn’t do hectoring all that well.
There are a number of other insubstantial sketches in this book, but the presence of ‘Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime’ and ‘The Canterville Ghost’ means that even a doubter like myself has to acknowledge that there were moments when Wilde was as brilliant as he though he was.
September 29, 2020
আমাকে যদি জিজ্ঞেস করা হয় কার ছোট গল্প আমার জীবনে অনেক বেশী প্রভাব রেখেছে আমাকে নিঃসন্দেহে অস্কার ওয়াল্ডের নাম নিতে হবে। তার লিখা "The Happy Prince", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Remarkable Rocket" এবং "The Selfish Giant". কিছু প্রিয় উক্তি আমি তুলে ধরলাম
“Travel improves the mind wonderfully, and does away with all one’s prejudices.”
“Common sense, indeed!” said the Rocket indignantly; “you forget that I am very uncommon, and very remarkable. Why, anybody can have common sense, provided that they have no imagination. But I have imagination, for I never think of things as they really are; I always think of them as being quite different. As for keeping myself dry, there is evidently no one here who can at all appreciate an emotional nature. Fortunately for myself, I don’t care. The only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else, and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated.”
“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. ”
“What I a silly thing Love is,” said the Student as he walked away. “It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.”
“Travel improves the mind wonderfully, and does away with all one’s prejudices.”
“Common sense, indeed!” said the Rocket indignantly; “you forget that I am very uncommon, and very remarkable. Why, anybody can have common sense, provided that they have no imagination. But I have imagination, for I never think of things as they really are; I always think of them as being quite different. As for keeping myself dry, there is evidently no one here who can at all appreciate an emotional nature. Fortunately for myself, I don’t care. The only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else, and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated.”
“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. ”
“What I a silly thing Love is,” said the Student as he walked away. “It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics.”
August 13, 2022
وایلد با آنکه فاقد خصوصیت آثار نویسندگان کلاسیک است؛ ولی هوشمندی، طبع بذلهگو و ذوق طنزنویسی او که توانسته از عصر خود تصویری مسخرهآمیز بسازد، مانع کهنگی آثارش شده. از بین تمام داستانهای اسکار وایلد که در این مجموعه جمع شده، به ترتیب از کتاب خانهی انار، کتاب جنایت لرد آرتور ساویل و کتاب شاهزادهی خوشحال لذت بردم. موقع خواندن داستان شاهزادهی خوشحال غمگین شدم و به اختیار خودم پایانش را تغییر دادم: قلب شاهزاده توی کوره ذوب میشود و هیچوقت به بهشت نمیرسد. این پایان واقعیتر است
March 4, 2019
Oké, dit was een tweedekeus boek (ik was op zoek naar The picture of Dorian Gray, bien sûr), dus dit krijgt dan ook een tweederangs review:
*The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Happy Prince: altruïsme
The Nightingale and the Rose: materialisme
The Selfish Giant: mooi
The Devoted Friend: kruiwagen
The Remarkable Rocket: satirisch
""Conversation, indeed!" said the Rocket. "You have talked the whole time yourself. That is not conversation."
"Somebody must listen," answered the Frog, "and I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time, and prevents arguments."
"But I like arguments," said the Rocket.
"I hope not," said the Frog complacently. "Arguments are extremely vulgar, for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions.""
*Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime: ironisch
The Canterville Ghost: gerechtigheid
The Sphinx Without a Secret: niet-mysterieus
""I wonder.""
The Model Millionaire: zonderling
""Millionaire models,' remarked Alan, 'are rare enough; but, by Jove, model millionaires are rarer still!""
*The Portrait of Mr. W. H.: plausibel
*A House of Pomegranates
The Young King: christelijk
The Birthday of the Infanta: triest
""For the future, let those who come to play with me have no hearts.""
The Fisherman and his Soul: Liefde
The Star-Child: "sprookje"
*Poems in Prose: flamboyant
*stukje van The Elder Tree: sjiek
*Herziener Ian Small: puik
Bonus:
*deze review: eenmalig
*The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Happy Prince: altruïsme
The Nightingale and the Rose: materialisme
The Selfish Giant: mooi
The Devoted Friend: kruiwagen
The Remarkable Rocket: satirisch
""Conversation, indeed!" said the Rocket. "You have talked the whole time yourself. That is not conversation."
"Somebody must listen," answered the Frog, "and I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time, and prevents arguments."
"But I like arguments," said the Rocket.
"I hope not," said the Frog complacently. "Arguments are extremely vulgar, for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions.""
*Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime: ironisch
The Canterville Ghost: gerechtigheid
The Sphinx Without a Secret: niet-mysterieus
""I wonder.""
The Model Millionaire: zonderling
""Millionaire models,' remarked Alan, 'are rare enough; but, by Jove, model millionaires are rarer still!""
*The Portrait of Mr. W. H.: plausibel
*A House of Pomegranates
The Young King: christelijk
The Birthday of the Infanta: triest
""For the future, let those who come to play with me have no hearts.""
The Fisherman and his Soul: Liefde
The Star-Child: "sprookje"
*Poems in Prose: flamboyant
*stukje van The Elder Tree: sjiek
*Herziener Ian Small: puik
Bonus:
*deze review: eenmalig
September 21, 2023
Siempre es un placer leer a Oscar Wilde.
Cada uno de los cuentos de esta colección me ha encantado. En cada uno de ellos se percibe perfectamente la época personal que pasaba el autor en el momento de escribirlo.
Ahora, he de decir que la última de las partes del libro (poemas en prosa), aunque es cortita, me ha enamorado de principio a fin.
Muy recomendable.
📖❤️
Cada uno de los cuentos de esta colección me ha encantado. En cada uno de ellos se percibe perfectamente la época personal que pasaba el autor en el momento de escribirlo.
Ahora, he de decir que la última de las partes del libro (poemas en prosa), aunque es cortita, me ha enamorado de principio a fin.
Muy recomendable.
📖❤️
March 30, 2023
Gostei muito do livro, mas especialmente dos contos mais no estilo moderno. O meu preferido é sem dúvida o "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime", mas o Fantasma de Canterville também é muito bom (de forma diferente, muito mais satírico). As melhores fábulas são as mais curtinhas, as mais longas tendem a ser um pouco chatas. Os contos bíblicos são muito bons, e adotam quer uma postura cínica quer uma postura de abertura à Fé.
May 17, 2012
Although, I prefer Wilde's plays over his stories, this is a splendid collection of Wilde's short fiction. The stories written for children are my most favourite ones. They all are brilliantly crafted and achingly sweet, ending on a rather melancholy note. As you would expect from children stories, they all contain some kind of moral lessons, most of them promoting Christian values of self-sacrifice, charity, love and friendship. Often I had my heart in my mouth whenever a beautiful phrase or scene would come up. E.g.
"'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 of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that hide in the valley, and the heather that blows on the hill. Yet Love is better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?'" (The Nightingale and the Rose)
or
"'I am going to House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?'
And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet." (The Happy Prince)
I've still got left to read few of Wilde's stories which he wrote for adults, though I didn't really relish The Portrait Of Mr W H. It had a promising beginning but it started to read like a monotonous literary essay on Shakespeare's sonnets, so I end up skimming through half of the story...
[I shall update my review later.]
"'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 of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that hide in the valley, and the heather that blows on the hill. Yet Love is better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?'" (The Nightingale and the Rose)
or
"'I am going to House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?'
And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet." (The Happy Prince)
I've still got left to read few of Wilde's stories which he wrote for adults, though I didn't really relish The Portrait Of Mr W H. It had a promising beginning but it started to read like a monotonous literary essay on Shakespeare's sonnets, so I end up skimming through half of the story...
[I shall update my review later.]
May 18, 2015
Awesome! I don't think I could ask for more from a short story collection. These stories were thought-provoking, original, beautiful, inspiring... it was brilliant. Yes, some stories were better than others but that's an occupational hazard with short story collections, and I didn't mind a bit of light and shade. Oscar Wilde's writing is just amazing - the descriptions, the characterisation (particularly the way the characters react to things) - I love it.
My favourite stories were Lord Arthur Saville's Crime (anyone who read and loved The Picture of Dorian Gray would love this story), The Happy Prince and The Portrait of Mr. W. H. The latter I would definitely recommend to any Shakespeare fan - the new perspective it brings to his sonnets and really just his life are so thought-provoking and creative and just wow. I also enjoyed all the references to Greek mythology, which, like Shakespeare, is another subject I'm obsessed with. Oscar Wilde never fails to blow my mind with his beautiful writing, creative stories and emotive visions. I am extremely glad I read this book!
My favourite stories were Lord Arthur Saville's Crime (anyone who read and loved The Picture of Dorian Gray would love this story), The Happy Prince and The Portrait of Mr. W. H. The latter I would definitely recommend to any Shakespeare fan - the new perspective it brings to his sonnets and really just his life are so thought-provoking and creative and just wow. I also enjoyed all the references to Greek mythology, which, like Shakespeare, is another subject I'm obsessed with. Oscar Wilde never fails to blow my mind with his beautiful writing, creative stories and emotive visions. I am extremely glad I read this book!
May 28, 2021
I've only read a few other authors short stories and I found only a few to be worthy of significant praise and attention while many can be all but forgotten. From Oscar Wilde almost all, in this book at least, were something to marvel at. The first 3/4 of the stories are magnificent, full of extravagance and wit, with no shortage of moral teachings and grave but appreciative warnings. The last quarter were less to my liking, with Lord Arthur Savile's crime being the hardest to rally behind but even so this whole collection is beautiful.
August 21, 2019
The short stories here aren't all that great, honestly.
Oscar Wilde is great at quips and epigrams, but many of the stories here don't show that.
Probably the story 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' is the best one here, and 'The Canterville Ghost' is a close second. But many of his other stories are cutesy fairy tales, apparently written for children, and they just don't do much for me. I got bored and couldn't even finish parts of his collection. When the stories are good, they're great -- but they're not often good, and many of them are rather uninteresting and boring.
Oscar Wilde is great at quips and epigrams, but many of the stories here don't show that.
Probably the story 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' is the best one here, and 'The Canterville Ghost' is a close second. But many of his other stories are cutesy fairy tales, apparently written for children, and they just don't do much for me. I got bored and couldn't even finish parts of his collection. When the stories are good, they're great -- but they're not often good, and many of them are rather uninteresting and boring.
February 15, 2023
mr moreau gibi breakdown yapmaya karar verdim:
1. masallar kısmı güzeldi ama çoğunu biliyodum ve çocuk masallarıydılar 3.5/5
2. masallar kısmı aşırı bayıcıydı 1.5/5
3. öyküler MÜKEMMELDİ ÖZELLİKLE İLKİ 8/5
4. mensurlar idare ederdi ama tanrı takıntısı garipti 2.5/5
overall score: 3,875
1. masallar kısmı güzeldi ama çoğunu biliyodum ve çocuk masallarıydılar 3.5/5
2. masallar kısmı aşırı bayıcıydı 1.5/5
3. öyküler MÜKEMMELDİ ÖZELLİKLE İLKİ 8/5
4. mensurlar idare ederdi ama tanrı takıntısı garipti 2.5/5
overall score: 3,875
January 5, 2020
I've been reading a story here and there for a while. My favourite stories were The Remarkable Rocket and The Portrait of Mr. W. H. I'm glad of the notes as they really helped.
March 14, 2023
Absolutely stunning!!
November 3, 2024
⭐️3.75
I was not expecting the religious aspect to be so prominent in this collection of short stories, but I did enjoy myself most of the time. The sassiness and sarcasm were probably my favorite parts but the gentle touches here and there, in the characters’ descriptions or in their acts, did make me feel quite giddy.
I will forever be curious of the novels Wilde could have written if he was publishing books in the 21st century.
He could have written so MANY bangers.
I was not expecting the religious aspect to be so prominent in this collection of short stories, but I did enjoy myself most of the time. The sassiness and sarcasm were probably my favorite parts but the gentle touches here and there, in the characters’ descriptions or in their acts, did make me feel quite giddy.
I will forever be curious of the novels Wilde could have written if he was publishing books in the 21st century.
He could have written so MANY bangers.
September 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this! It’s hard to rate it given the fact that it’s a collection of many different stories and I have rated those individually, so this rating only applies to the experience of reading the book in general. Wilde has never failed me :)
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