The Complete Fairy Stories of Oscar Wilde is a lovely collection of nine children’s stories which were originally published in two volumes. This version, enhanced with intricate illustrations by Philippe Jullian, stood out on a shelf the Winding Stair Bookstore, in Dublin (where I also picked up Virginia Woolf’s “How One Should Read a Book”). I reasoned that while visiting Ireland, I should also buy some Irish literature.

I have long been an established fan of Wilde’s works, particularly the hilarious play The Importance of Being Earnest and the cautionary tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde was a true master at pulling back the layers of the human condition in ways that draw enough attention to be poignant, but are gentle enough to allow for redemption. Such was the case in these fairy stories.

All nine stories challenged me to consider my own attitudes as characters portrayed the best and worst of our potential as complex living beings. Wilde’s prose is so poetic that I felt as though the stories were ferrying me along the river of wisdom. Any time I bumped against a theme or topic that I didn’t care for, I was prompted to reflect on my motivations and biases instead of casting off the narrative. Stories that I loved also made me a bit sad. Stories that I didn’t like provided food for thought days after reading.

Increasingly I believe that authentic stories can be told without fully delving into every grimy detail of real life. Though the cliché is cringy, this collection is suitable for readers of all ages, a designation that I don’t feel is applicable to many works of literature in this modern era. Though calling them fairy stories may turn jaded adults off, I believe everyone can benefit from a bit of imaginative literature. If you find a copy of these stories, be sure to buy it!

This book may be for you if you also like: Oscar Wilde’s other plays & books; nature; walks in the woods; European lore; The Importance of Being Earnest (film, 2002); Dublin, Ireland; folk and fairy stories; children’s stories; the Brothers Grimm; William Shakespeare.

Buy the book: https://bookshop.org/a/109412/9781957240893
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SDG