Fairy tales of Oscar Wilde: The happy prince

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.'