` Wilde did not converse
- he told tales.` Oscar Wilde was already famous as a brilliant wit & raconteur when he first began to publish his short stories in the late 1880s. They have never lacked readers & admirers, George Orwell & W. B. Yeats among them. The stories give free rein to Wilde`s originality, literary skill, & sophistication. They include poignant fairy-tales such as ` The Happy Prince` & ` The Selfish Giant`, & the extravagant comedy & social observation of ` Lord Arthur Savile`s Crime` & ` The Canterville Ghost`. They also encompass the daring narrative experiments of ` The Portrait of Mr. W. H.`, Wilde`s fictional investigation into the identity of the dedicatee of Shakespeare`s sonnets, & the ` Poems in Prose`, based on the Gospel stories. This edition demonstrates the centrality of Wilde`s shorter fiction in his literary career, & his continuing development & experimentation with the short story format. Combining myth, romance, & irony, Wilde`s stories enthral & challenge the reader. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World`s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford`s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, & much more.