A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde

Description

A House of Pomegranates is a book by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1891. This richly imaginative collection brings together four literary fairy tales written in Wilde’s distinctive late-Victorian style, blending beauty, symbolism, and moral reflection. Though often described as fairy tales, these stories are far from simple children’s fables; they are carefully wrought narratives that explore sacrifice, love, cruelty, and spiritual transformation through lush prose and vivid imagery. The volume includes The Young King, The Birthday of the Infanta, The Fisherman and His Soul, and The Star-Child. Each tale centres on a striking figure placed in moral conflict: a youthful ruler awakening to the cost of splendour, a vain princess confronted with unintended cruelty, a fisherman torn between earthly love and his own soul, and a beautiful but heartless child forced into suffering before redemption is possible. Wilde draws heavily on biblical echoes, medieval legend, and classical myth, shaping stories that feel timeless while quietly questioning social injustice, pride, and materialism. Throughout the collection, Wilde’s trademark wit gives way to a more solemn, lyrical voice. The narratives unfold with deliberate pacing, allowing symbolism and atmosphere to do much of the work. Themes of self-denial, compassion for the poor, and the redemptive power of love recur across the book, making it particularly appealing to readers interested in moral philosophy, aestheticism, and allegorical literature. The stories reward careful reading, offering layers of meaning beneath their fairy-tale surfaces. A House of Pomegranates stands apart from Wilde’s earlier fairy-tale collection in its darker tone and more demanding themes, reflecting a mature phase of his writing. It remains a significant work of classic English literature, valued both for its haunting storytelling and for its insight into the ethical and spiritual concerns that occupied Wilde at the height of his literary career.

Formats: PDF, epub, AZW3 in a Zip folder
Page Count (PDF): 49
Illustrations: No
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