Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was a multi-faceted writer, one who could compose poems, essays, short fiction, novels and plays with equal skill. He turned to journalism in the mid-1880s to support his young family, but published his first collection of short stories, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, in 1888. It was received fairly well, despite Wilde's difficulty in placing it with a publisher. A reader at Macmillan had described the stories as ‘pretty' but lacking ‘any striking imaginative brilliance'. The collection was in the end published by a minor and less reputable firm.

Wilde's works of fiction are not merely trifling stories, comedies or simple fairy tales. They are enticing and enigmatic, with a subversive edge. As well has having the distinctive voice of his plays, the stories reveal the development of Wilde's literary style. Further, they give insight into Wilde's personality, his opinions about society, and his handling of his feelings. His fiction works may not have had the intended impact at the time, but today their importance is understood and they are as important a part of Wilde's output as his inspiring novels and famous plays. --Naxos Audiobooks