Fairy tales of Oscar Wilde. The happy prince - P. Craig Russell

This is arguably the most famous and well-loved of Oscar Wilde's nine fairy tales, rivalled only by The Selfish Giant'. The Happy Prince has died young and his soul inhabits a beautiful ruby encrusted statue covered all over in gold leaf. From a perch high above the city he is witness to all the poverty, misery and hopelessness in which his people have been living. He encourages a small barn swallow to delay his travels and shower his people with gold. At times sad, this is a heart-warming and beautiful story.'