Book description
One of the world's best loved presenters meets one of the world's
greatest authors in this beautiful selection of timeless, haunting
stories. Vividly brought to life through abundant illustrations and
Stephen's masterly introductions, Oscar Wilde's short stories are here
made accessible to an entirely new generation.
Whether you know it or not, the stories in this book are familiar. Like
old friends whose charm and warmth never fade, Oscar Wilde's short
stories have enchanted generations of readers, and this beautiful book
makes them accessible to an entirely new readership.
Selected and presented by one of Wilde's biggest fans, the book
includes a foreword from Stephen Fry, who will also supply short
introductions to the stories themselves, explaining why they mean so
much to him and why they should mean a lot to you too.
Meet the selfish giant, whose garden was cloaked in perpetual winter
until he allowed the children to enter and play, the happy prince whose
statue stood overlooking his city, who gave the rubies and sapphires
embedded in his eyes and clothing to feed the poor, and the tiny swallow
who helped him. And let's not forget the remarkable rocket who was so
convinced that he would be the brightest, most remarkable rocket of all,
yet who ended up in a ditch. There's also the Canterville ghost, so
inept at being scary that every attempt to spook his American visitors
results in failure.
Stephen Fry has always been passionate about Oscar Wilde's writing but
he has a particular fondness for his short stories. In this beautifully
illustrated book he shares with us what each story means to him and what
he feels the reader can take away with them, whether they're five or
fifty years old. As well as a general introduction, Stephen offers
introductions to the stories themselves, taking the reader through his
selection. Illustrated by Nicole Stewart, stunning artwork accompanies
each story to give shape to the reader's imagination.
Whether you are buying this for yourself, for your wife, your son or
daughter, for your nephew, your niece, your mother, your brother or your
sister, the book will be a gift that you or they will cherish forever
and return to time and time again. These are stories for adults and
children of all ages, for all time. Comic genius and Renaissance man,
Stephen Fry is writer, actor, comedian, broadcaster, director,
librettist and compere extraordinaire. He was voted among the all time
top 50 comedians by fellow comedians and ranked 6th in the BBC's Top
Living Icon awards. He is best known for his TV comedy, including A Bit
of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder and QI, as well as
ITV's recent popular drama, Kingdom. His acting/directing film credits
include playing his hero, Oscar Wilde in the film Wilde, as well as
Bright Young Things and Gosford Park. He is the distinctive voice behind
the Harry Potter series of audiobooks and found recent futher acclaim
for his TV documentary, 'The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive'.
