Showing results by author "Oscar Wilde" in All Categories

"The Remarkable Rocket" This story concerns a firework, who is one of many to be let off at the wedding of a prince and princess. The rocket is extremely pompous and self-important, and denigrates all the other fireworks, eventually bursting into tears to demonstrate his "sensitivity". As this makes him wet, he fails to ignite, and, the next day, is thrown away into a ditch. He still believes that he is destined for great public importance, and treats a frog, dragonfly, and duck that meet him with appropriate disdain. Two boys find him, and use him for fuel on their camp-fire.

Oscar Wilde's classic comic ghost story was the first of his short stories to be published, in February 1887. It relates the experiences of Mr. Hiram B. Otis, an American minister, and his family when they move into Canterville Chase, an ancient pile haunted by the previous owner's dead ancestor, Sir Simon. Of course, Mr. Otis declares, "There is no such thing, sir, as a ghost", and all of Sir Simon's hauntings have no effect on the skeptical American family, with the exception of the daughter, Virginia, despite his most strenuous efforts.

'Essays and Lectures' is a collection of essays and lectures by Oscar Wilde. 'Essays and Lectures' contains "The Rise of Historical Criticism", "The English Renaissance of Art", "House Decoration", "Art and the Handicraftsman", "Lecture to Art Students", "London Models" and "Poems in Prose".

The story of The Happy Prince has three major themes. Firstly it shows that apparent beauty is nothing and the real beauty is to bestow love and sacrifice. Secondly, it discusses that love and sacrifice are two saving forces. Thirdly, it shows that there is a large gap between rich and poor people the rulers and the masses. When the happy prince is alive he lives a happy life without sorrows, he is living a care free life but after his death he sees through a tall Colum that life has another view except happiness and that is helplessness poverty, hypocrisy and corruption of elite and ruling class.

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, written in 1891, is a timeless philosophical classic that is still seen today as an interesting debate on the true meaning of beauty. Basil Hallward, a kind-hearted painter, is inspired by Dorian Grey's unbelievable good looks. While painting a still life of Dorian, Hallward and an acquaintance, Lord Henry Wotton, discuss Dorian's beauty and the idea of perfection. Convinced by their discussion that beauty is the only thing that matters in life, Dorian wishes that he would never age. Instead, he hopes that his painting will age in his stead.

Dorian Gray, a beautiful young man, sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty after viewing a picture of himself drawn by artist Basil Hallward. Dorian Gray's picture grows old and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife," Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."

When the giant's away, the children will play. That's what happens in Oscar Wilde's classic tale The Selfish Giant. Kids of all ages will love listening to this lively performance and will unwittingly learn an important lesson about selfishness and overcoming adversity.

Oscar Wilde was one of the most versatile writers who ever lived. He wrote classic plays, including The Importance of Being Ernest; one wildly popular and influential novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray; and a number of inventive and moving stories in The Happy Prince and Other Tales.

Stories included in this volume are: "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Devoted Friend", "The Happy Prince", "The Remarkable Rocket", and "The Selfish Giant".

Selected by Keith Winston, these are beautiful narrations of the best verse of the Celtic poets. Included are works by a Jonathan Swift, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Oscar Wilde, and William Butler Yeats.

A charming short story by Oscar Wilde. Hugh Erskine is a fine young man with a big heart, but without means. In order to marry his sweetheart, he must first placate his lover's father, the Colonel, and amass a great fortune. First published in 1887 and later included in the "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories" collection of 1891.

A man was hanged in Reading Gaol during Wilde's imprisonment there. In "The Ballad", written after his release, he tells of the horror of the event and its effect on himself and his fellow prisoners. First published 1898, under the pseudonym C.3.3 - the number by which Wilde was known in the prison, consisting of the cell block, landing number and cell number of his cell.

A House of Pomegranates is a collection of four fairy tales, published in 1891, as a follow on collection for The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888). Written in the form of parables with strong evidence of a Christian tone, Oscar Wilde again revisits the themes of suffering and sacrifice, in a collection which he once claimed was ‘intended neither for the British child nor the British public.’ “Of what use is my soul to me? I cannot see it. I may not touch it. I do not know it”

Pensées d'auteurs célèbres : Alfred de Musset, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, François Voltaire, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Lord Byron, Gustave Flaubert, et bien d'autres !

A fabulous collection of stories about the fabulously rich, the grindingly poor, sudden wealth, odd inheritances, greed and generosity.

Hughie Erskine drops in to see his artist friend Alan Trevor who is painting what appears to be a street beggar. Feeling sympathy for the poor wretch, Erskine gives him money. What he does not realize is that the "beggar" is merely posing for the artist and is actually one of the richest men in the world, Baron Hausberg, who does not reveal his identity until Erskine has made a complete fool of himself. Renowned vocal actor David Ian Davies performs Oscar Wilde's classic short story.

Un racconto ironico e surreale, una satira dell'alta società londinese di fine 800.

Celebre racconto umoristico giovanile di Oscar Wilde, pubblicato nel 1887. Il racconto ebbe grande successo come parodia delle storie di fantasmi: in realtà, dietro al noncurante umorismo dello scrittore, la storia è pervasa di dolcezza e di poesia.

Un grande classico di Oscar Wilde racconta come l'amore compie i suoi miracoli, sciogliendo il cuore ghiacciato di un gigante egoista.

The Importance of Being Earnest is a very popular play written by Oscar Wilde. In the satire, Algernon and Jack are two young members of the English gentry who pursue their romantic desires dishonestly. Both men want to adopt the name "Ernest," who is Jack's imaginary younger brother. The idea of name changing comes about when Algernon wants to marry Cecily, and Jack wants to marry Gwendolen. However, it just so happens that Cecily and Gwendolen are only interested in marrying men named Ernest!

This collection contains 21 reviews of artistic events and artifacts which originally appeared between 1877 and 1889. Clearly on display is Wilde's comprehensive knowledge of contemporary painting, fashion, and literature, as well as his capacity to create paradoxical aphorisms, which is such a feature of more substantial works like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.