The stories in this volume have been published in the past under the title "Stories for Children" which is the one thing the majority of them decidedly are not. It is well-documented that prior to their publication many of the stories were told by Oscar Wilde at dinner parties, where he always commanded the stage, and that alone should indicate his intended audience was adults. The stories were originally published in two volumes, and when asked directly if such intricate stories in the second volume as “The Fisherman and His Soul” were intended for children, Wilde replied, "I had about as much intention of pleasing the British child as I did of pleasing the British public." That disclaimer aside, there is much for adults to like in these deceptively simple tales, which only recently have begun to receive their due as serious literature.
Author
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest. As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.
