After seven years, the Giant has nothing left to say to his friend the Cornish ogre, and so he returns home to his castle—only to find that in his absence, the children have been playing in his beautiful garden. At once the selfish Giant builds a high wall to keep the children out of the garden. Winter turns into Spring all over the country—but not in the selfish Giant's garden. Across the country Spring turns into Summer and then to Autumn—but in the selfish Giant's garden, the trees refuse to bloom and the birds refuse to sing; they miss the children. The selfish Giant lies shivering in his large bed while Hail, Snow, North Wind, and Frost dance across the garden. But one morning the Giant hears a beautiful noise—what could it be? An unexpected ending gives the story a poignant, wistful quality, and Bill Bell's dazzling illustrations breathe new life into this classic tale. And adults familiar with Oscar Wilde's work will enjoy seeing this gentler, softer side of Wilde. The Selfish Giant is a beautiful book for parents and children to read together during any season.

Inspiring two films (the latest featuring ‘Emmerdale’s’ Conner Chapman, and ‘Shameless’ star, Sean Gilder), ‘The Selfish Giant’ is a classic children’s fairytale from the pen of Oscar Wilde. While he might be better known for his biting wit and cynical observations, this story is both beautiful and timeless. It centres around a giant, who builds a wall around his garden in order to keep children out. As a result, his garden is frozen in perpetual winter. However, a young boy has hidden himself away there and gives the giant a chance to redeem himself. Touching and wonderfully written, this is an ideal read for children and the young at heart. Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish novelist, poet, playwright, and wit. He was an advocate of the Aesthetic movement, which extolled the virtues of art for the sake of art. During his career, Wilde wrote nine plays, including ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan,’ and ‘A Woman of No Importance,’ many of which are still performed today. His only novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ was adapted for the silver screen, in the film, ‘Dorian Gray,’ starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth. In addition, Wilde wrote 43 poems, and seven essays. His life was the subject of a film, starring Stephen Fry.

A little jewel of a book in a new illustrated edition of Oscar Wilde’s beloved tale The children loved to play in the Giant’s garden, but when he returned after years away, he said, “What are you doing here?” and the children fled. This is the classic story of a giant whose gloomy outlook and self-centered ways are changed by a remarkable tiny child.

While the giant is away, the local children fill his garden with their games and laughter, spilling over the green grass and colorful flowers, perching in the peach trees, and singing with the birds. When the giant returns, he throws them out, declaring that the garden is his and only his to enjoy. Quickly, the garden withers and winter takes hold, only to be broken by the return of a solitary child longing to play in what used to be paradise. The child's sadness melts the giant's heart, and he realizes what a selfish giant he has been. He opens up his garden but must wait a lifetime to once again see the fragile boy who reminded him about generosity and love.

A selfish giant reforms his ways when the laughter of children brings the beauty of spring to his garden. Victorian author Oscar Wilde is known both as a playwright and prose author. Among his most famous works are The Picture of Dorian Gray, his only novel, the plays An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest, and the short story collections Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories and The Happy Prince and Other Stories. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

The Selfish Giant, one of our Favorite Fairy Tales, was first published in 1888 as part of Oscar Wilde's collection of children's stories entitled The Happy Prince and Other Tales. That collection of children's stories also includes: The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Devoted Friend, and The Remarkable Rocket.

Like old friends whose charm and warmth never fade, Oscar Wilde's short stories have enchanted generations of readers, and occupy a special place in the heart of each new reader. Like luminous gems, they have lost none of their power to enthral and inspire; and in this beautifully illustrated edition, Stephen Fry presents these gems to shine anew.

Oscar Wilde is one of the most quoted and quotable men in history. He once boasted that he could talk spontaneously on any subject, a claim effortlessly borne out by the range and scope of the examples collected in this book. It is an entertaining, instructive, and revealing look at a man who is unlikely ever to be forgotten. "Oscar Wilde," wrote Richard Ellmann, "we have only to hear the great name to anticipate that what will be quoted as his will surprise and delight us. His wit is an agent of renewal, as pertinent now as a hundred years ago."

"You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise." ― Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant - A Classic! - Includes Images from the Story