Should be perfect but ...

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.

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1 person found this helpful

great!

Well worth buying. absolutly incredible! sutible for all ages and all audiences.

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Oscar Wilde + Stephen Fry = Truth

How could you possibly go wrong when you combine Oscar Wilde and Stephen Fry? They were made for each other!

I don't like short story compendiums very much, so the fact that I gave this a 4 is a good rating. (5 are reserved for books that truly moves me.)

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4 people found this helpful

More than just kid's stories..

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'...

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18 people found this helpful

recording issue

that there was no break between stories meant listening was a jarring experience. I hope this issue was technical not stylistic.

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A family favourite

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.

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12 people found this helpful

A gem of an audiobook for young & old alike !

Exceptionally narrated by Stephen Fry, these classic Oscar Wilde stories which include "The Unfriendly Giant" and the "The Happy Prince" reminds us of the need for giving to those who are not as fortunate as ourselves, and to embrace those who appear different and show them kindness and love. A great moral builder for children, and reminder for us adults. A gem of an audiobook!

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2 people found this helpful

A world of pure imagination.

I absolutely loved listening to this! Such a good podcast indeed! Stephen Fry = my guy!

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A pleasant afternoons listening

Never heard these stories before, enjoyed them as much as the Importance of being Earnest! Could listen to Stephen Fry reading all day, adds personality to the characters.

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Read and written by masters!

What made the experience of listening to Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories the most enjoyable?

I read the stories when I was a child. Having them read by Stephen Fry brought back some fond childhood memories. If you have children I find that these stories are great for them to listen to and to discuss the morals in the stories.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories?

The Selfish Giant used to be a little scary for one of the younger children in the family. However, a year later they were loving the story as they could understand it better. (Age 9)

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The Happy Prince where the swallow takes all the things the prince gives to help the people. So moving!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could happily listen to it in one sitting, although the book is split into 6 short stories so can be listened to in a number of sittings.

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