The Happy Prince: A Retelling for Curious Readers

A look inside

The opening of The Happy Prince: A Retelling for Curious Readers, free to read.

1. 

   A Town Councilor, a city leader, tipped his head far back. High on its column shone the statue of the Happy Prince. A ruby burned red on his sword. His eyes were two blue sapphires, and gold leaf covered the rest of him. “He is as beautiful as a weathercock,” said the Councilor. “Only not quite so useful,” he added quickly, for a weathercock shows which way the wind blows.

2. 

   “Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?” a mother asked her crying little boy. “He never cries for anything.” The children from the Charity School looked up. “He looks just like an angel,” they said. “How do you know?” asked their teacher. “You have never seen one.” “Ah! But we have, in our dreams,” said the children.

3. 

   Far away, by a river, the swallows had gossiped all summer. One little Swallow loved a Reed! “Shall I love you?” he had asked, and the Reed had bowed. “What a silly match,” his friends twittered. “She has no money, and far too many relations.” In autumn they left for Egypt without him.