Now in paperback! The Happy Prince is arguably the most famous and well-loved of Oscar Wilde's nine fairy tales. The Happy Prince has died young and his soul inhabits a beautiful ruby encrusted statue. From his perch high above the city he is witness to all the poverty, misery and hopelessness in which his people have been living. When a small barn swallow in flight to the warm south ahead of the approaching winter stops to rest upon the statue the Happy Prince prevails upon him to delay his travels in order to remove his gold leaf a piece at a time.