Oscar Wilde's Stories for Children
It is over 130 years since Oscar Wilde published his stories for children, brought to life again in this sumptuous volume by Dublin-based Lauren O’Hara. Since then, scores of artists have adapted these magical, sometimes dark and allegorical tales, though this new addition holds its own.
As parables, the stories, from The Selfish Giant to The Nightingale and the Rose, tackle the subjects of death and sacrifice. But their themes are also broader, exploring friendship, selflessness and the consequences of greed. This might sound heavy, but Wilde tempers morality with memorable personalities, particularly the supercilious firework in The Remarkable Rocket or kindly Little Hans of The Devoted Friend.
O’Hara’s visuals depict bygone worlds of magical gardens and turreted palaces and her vivid and blossoming scenes pair perfectly with Wilde’s romantic and descriptive prose. On the latter, some words and concepts will challenge young readers who will benefit from adult help. The characters are child-friendly and cherubic, rendered in tactile layers of paint, while the design is resplendent. Ornate lattice papercuts frame the text throughout, harking back to the collection’s Victorian roots.
The Young King is well-placed as the final story in this collection, given its darker narrative and mature prose. Its final image of the king bathed in celestial light, like many of the other full-page scenes, is a standout. Throughout the collection, Wilde warns young readers of the peril of choosing style over substance; but with this fresh and sensitively illustrated new collection we can emphatically enjoy both.
