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Children’s Stories by Oscar Wilde

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About this listen

Immerse yourself in a world where the wonderful Stephen Fry reads some of the more memorable Children’s short stories written by one of our most successful playwrights of all time. A brilliant combination of reader and writer come together in these seven short stories available on digital download only.

Immerse yourself in a world where the wonderful Stephen Fry reads some of the more memorable short stories of our time. Stephen's voice takes you into a different kind of listening experience, enabling you to imagine narrative, settings, animals and people with vivid colour and meaning.
Enjoy the work of one of the most celebrated writers of our time – Irish poet, playwright and short story writer Oscar Wilde. A brilliant combination of reader and writer come together in these six Children’s short stories which are available from the 1st Decemeber 2008 on digital download only.

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Critic reviews

“Stephen’s voice is so full of character and emotion that he brings these stories to life. And, obviously, they are read by a Great Britain (meant in every sense of the word), so Wilde’s stories are brought back where they belong and have been acceptedwith open arms”

“No one else could bring these stories to life like Stephen Fry. truly wonderful”
All stars
Most relevant
Having seen the other reviews, I was wary of this product & thought it may prove to be a flat note in Stephen Fry's/ Oscar Wilde's repertoire. Happily both were on top form with Oscar Wilde writing some devilishly clever stories, with his protegee Stephen Fry giving just the right voice to do them justice.

All in all, there are 6 stories (including a story-within-a-story) at 15- 30 minutes a piece, so they are manageable in a long car journey/ walk. They are as follows:

1) The Devoted Friend
2) The Happy Prince
3) The Nightingale and the Rose
4) The Remarkable Rocket
5) The Selfish Giant
6) The Young King

With all the stories I was expecting them to be either old fashioned or babyish. Fortunately they are neither & you can see why Fry says on the back cover that 'I do not mind admitting that at the recording some passages were hard to read out loud without choking'.

Like the 'Stephen Fry Presents - Short Stories by Anton Chekhov', though, I have the same nagging grievance - why is it only 6 stories & 2 hours 14 minutes of material? Fair enough that Wilde wrote few short stories, but a double album with the Chekhov stuff (or better still with some of Wilde's under-rated poetry) would have made a much more desirable product.

That said, I can think of few instances where a great narrator has been so perfectly matched with an author. Wilde & Fry are very much cut from the same cloth & Fry has even made a film playing his doupelganger.
The only thing I can think of comparable to this pairing is that of Dawkins reading Darwin on 'On The Origin of Species' & I wonder why it is not done more often.
Can anyone imagine The Queen reading 'Queen Victoria's Journals', or Terry Pratchett reading 'The Lord of the Rings'? It would give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'bringing a book to life'...

More than just kid's stories..

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Stephen's reading is a joy, Oscar Wilde's words are glorious and the two together should be worth far more than 5 stars. Why do I only give it 4 stars, then? As anyone in the production process of writing or film could tell you, the skill or otherwise of the editing can create or ruin the work. Unskilful, insensitive editing which leaves not a single moment between chapters to savour the delicate blend of writer and performer spoils what should be as near a perfect experience as is possible.

Please, please can this be re-edited, so that listeners can experience this the way it should be.

Should be perfect but ...

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I've listened to a few audio books by Stephen Fry now, and not only is he entertaining, with this one he brings the stories to life. Especially like the story about the farmer and the wheelbarrow. He portrays the characters very well and sets the scene spot on. I've never read anything by Oscar Wilde at all and did not know what to expect - will certainly considering delving now into some more of his famous works.

A great introduction, and well read.

Well Read !

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I have long loved listening to Stephen Fry's narrations and what a treat this is to have him read Oscar Wilde, a part he (Fry) was born to play and did so well. Some people feel Wilde is rather passe but I have long believed him to be one of the greatest writers in the English language, carefully judged phrases and word structure generally, perhaps second only to Shakespeare and well above some modern writers. Oscar Wilde and Stephen Fry, a beautiful combination indeed.

A Beautiful Combination

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These short, but entertaining, stories are a big hit with both my 'near teenage' son and my 20 year old daughter. Stephen's voice is, as always, a pleasure to listen to; and the stories are both entertaining and engaging.
I recommend this for a car journey where you want everyone to just calm down.

A family favourite

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