THE FAIRY STORIES OF OSCAR WILDE - THE BOOK I READ FROM THE BOOKS ON WHEELS

     

  

The Hindu Lit for Life is a prominent literary initiative curated by The Hindu, aimed at fostering a deep and inclusive reading culture. Conceived as an extension of The Hindu’s long-standing engagement with books, ideas, and intellectual discourse, Lit for Life brings together writers, thinkers, artists, and readers through festivals, discussions, readings, and outreach programmes. It seeks not only to celebrate literature but also to make reading accessible, relevant, and enjoyable for people across age groups and social backgrounds.

Books on Wheels is one such outreach initiative under the Lit for Life umbrella. Designed as a mobile library and reading space, it literally takes books to public spaces—parks, neighbourhoods, schools, and community centres—transforming everyday locations into vibrant literary hubs. Stocked with a carefully curated selection of books across genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, classics, and visually rich coffee-table books published by The Hindu, Books on Wheels invites readers to pause, browse, and read at a relaxed pace.

More than just a book display, Books on Wheels creates an atmosphere of unhurried engagement with literature. By allowing the collection to remain in one place for hours, it encourages readers to savour books without pressure, rekindling the simple joy of reading in a shared public setting. Together, The Hindu Lit for Life and Books on Wheels embody the idea that literature belongs not only in libraries and festivals, but in everyday life—open, welcoming, and accessible to all.

 

  AS A PART OF THE HINDU LIT FOR LIFE, BOOKS ON WHEELS REACHED ANNANAGAR TOWER PARK TODAY. IT WAS EXCELLENT WITH BOOKS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, INCLUDING COFFEE TABLE BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE HINDU. IT STOOD THERE FOR HOURS ALLOWING READERS TO SAVOUR THEIR BOOKS AT A LEISURELY PACE.

THE BOOK - the fairy stories of Oscar Wilde, illustrated by HAROLD JONES, CAUGHT MY EYES AND HERE ARE THE DETAILS OF THE BOOK WHICH I ENJOYED

 

Oscar Wilde’s The Fairy Stories of Oscar Wilde is a collection of literary fairy tales that combine beauty, moral reflection, social criticism, and emotional depth. Unlike traditional fairy tales meant only for children, Wilde’s stories are written for both young readers and adults. They are rich in symbolism and often carry poignant, sometimes tragic, lessons about love, sacrifice, compassion, vanity, and injustice.

The volume illustrated by Harold Jones is especially admired because his elegant, classical illustrations complement Wilde’s lyrical prose, enhancing the dreamlike and emotional quality of the stories.

Below is a detailed explanation and expansion of the major stories commonly included in this book, with attention to their themes and meanings.

 

1. The Happy Prince

This is one of Wilde’s most famous and moving stories.

Story Summary

The Happy Prince is a statue standing high above a city. While alive, the Prince lived in luxury and never knew sorrow. As a statue, however, he can now see the suffering of the poor: starving children, overworked seamstresses, and struggling artists.

A migrating Swallow rests at the statue’s feet. The Prince persuades the Swallow to help him relieve human misery. One by one, the Swallow removes the jewels and gold leaf from the Prince’s body and delivers them to the needy. As winter approaches, the Swallow grows weaker but refuses to leave the Prince. Eventually, the Swallow dies at the Prince’s feet, and the statue—now stripped and dull—is pulled down by city authorities.

In the end, God declares the Swallow and the Prince’s lead heart to be the two most precious things in the city.

Themes and Meaning

True happiness comes from compassion, not wealth

Self-sacrifice and love are portrayed as the highest virtues

A sharp critique of social inequality and political indifference

The story suggests that moral beauty is invisible to those in power

 

2. The Nightingale and the Rose

This story explores love, idealism, and disillusionment.

Story Summary

A young Student believes love is meaningless because he cannot find a red rose to give to a girl he loves. A Nightingale, deeply moved by the Student’s romantic sorrow, believes in love as the greatest force in the world.

To create a red rose, the Nightingale presses her heart against a thorn and sings all night, sacrificing her life so that her blood will color the rose. The next morning, the Student offers the rose to the girl, but she rejects it in favor of jewels given by another admirer. The Student then dismisses love as impractical and returns to his books.

Themes and Meaning

The tragedy of unrecognized sacrifice

Idealism versus materialism

Love’s purity contrasted with human selfishness

Wilde subtly criticizes a society that values wealth over emotion

 

3. The Selfish Giant

This story focuses on transformation and redemption.

Story Summary

A Giant owns a beautiful garden where children love to play. When he returns from a long journey, he selfishly drives them away and builds a wall. As a result, the garden falls into perpetual winter—spring never comes.

One day, the children sneak back in through a hole in the wall, and spring returns. The Giant notices one small child unable to climb a tree and helps him. His heart melts, and he breaks down the wall forever.

Years later, the Giant sees the child again, now bearing wounds on his hands and feet. The child reveals himself as Christ and invites the Giant to Paradise. The Giant dies peacefully beneath a tree covered in white blossoms.

Themes and Meaning

Selfishness leads to spiritual barrenness

Kindness brings renewal and life

Christian symbolism of redemption and salvation

The innocence of children as a moral force

 

4. The Devoted Friend

This is a darkly ironic tale about false friendship.

Story Summary

Little Hans is a kind-hearted gardener who believes in generosity. His wealthy friend, the Miller, constantly preaches about friendship but exploits Hans’s kindness. The Miller borrows tools, demands favors, and never repays Hans.

Eventually, the Miller sends Hans out in a storm on an errand “for friendship’s sake.” Hans drowns, and the Miller mourns not Hans’s death, but the inconvenience of losing a useful friend.

Themes and Meaning

Hypocrisy masked as morality

Exploitation of the poor by the self-righteous wealthy

Wilde exposes false altruism and moral arrogance

A critique of social power imbalance

 

5. The Remarkable Rocket

This is Wilde’s most humorous fairy tale.

Story Summary

A Rocket meant for a royal celebration believes himself to be extraordinary. He is arrogant, sentimental, and obsessed with his own importance. While other fireworks perform brilliantly, the Rocket fails to ignite and ends up discarded.

After a series of ridiculous misadventures, he finally explodes alone in a ditch, with no one to witness his “greatness.”

Themes and Meaning

Vanity and self-importance

Satire of pride and false superiority

Humor used to expose human foolishness

A warning against arrogance and lack of self-awareness

 

Artistic Contribution of Harold Jones

Harold Jones’s illustrations add:

Graceful, classical line work

Strong emotional expression in faces and posture

A timeless, storybook elegance that mirrors Wilde’s prose

Visual depth that enhances the sadness, beauty, and irony of the tales

His artwork helps readers linger over the stories—much like the visitors at the Books on Wheels event—allowing the emotions and meanings to unfold slowly.

 

Overall Significance of the Book

The Fairy Stories of Oscar Wilde is:

A blend of fantasy, philosophy, and social criticism

Written in rich, musical language

Deeply empathetic toward suffering and injustice

Meant to be read slowly, thoughtfully, and reflectively

These stories stay with readers long after the final page, encouraging compassion, humility, and moral awareness—making them perfectly suited for a public reading space like the one created by The Hindu Lit for Life, Books on Wheels initiative.