The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Vol. 4: The Devoted Friend & The Nightingale and the Rose - Hardcover

Two perfect prose miniatures find their ideal illustrator in this fourth volume of Russell's adaptations from Wilde. There are no happy little diversions for children here; Wilde appreciated childlike innocence, but he also realized how often it was abused and disappointed in the adult world. In "The Devoted Friend," a rich miller who can talk eloquently about friendship exploits his trusting neighbor to the point of death. In "The Nightingale and the Rose," an innocent bird sacrifices itself for the sake of a true love that turns out to be a sham. Wilde isn't blatantly jeering at hypocrites or credulous fools in these stories. He is, however, suggesting that even the most genuinely beautiful surfaces shouldn't be trusted. Russell catches this mood perfectly, not trying to overshadow Wilde but merely helping him do his disturbing work. Russell's exquisite art has a supple ink line that's never fussy. His picture of the miller shows an elaborate, empty facade, far more offensive than a simple hypocrite. The yearning lover looks sincere enough to convince readers that the nightingale must be doing the right thing—until, at the conclusion, readers recognize he's just a dull lad. Pricey as this slim book is, it's probably best not to read many of Wilde's sardonic tales at one time.
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Grade 4-7–Russell continues his accessible, comic-book adaptations of Wilde's fairy tales. "The Devoted Friend" is the story of the one-sided relationship between a rich, selfish miller and a poor, kindhearted gardener. The miller claims to be Hans's most devoted friend and the naive young man believes every word he says, which ultimately leads him to his death. In "The Nightingale and the Rose," a student laments his lack of red roses, which he believes will help him win the heart of a fickle young woman. A selfless nightingale sets out to find him such a flower. The bird must sacrifice its own life to aid the young man who, when he delivers the rose to his love, finds she now prefers jewels. Russell's vivid artwork and graphic-novel style open Wilde's tragic stories to a new audience while remaining true to his thoughtful, moral prose.–Karen T. Bilton, Somerset County Library, Bridgewater, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.