The Selfish Giant

Story

When a selfish giant chases the local children out of his beautiful garden, he unknowingly invites in some unwelcome guests: Snow, Frost, Hail and the North Wind. Now, spring never comes and no birds sing. Will the giant learn his lesson or is his garden destined to remain trapped in an eternal winter forever?

Why we chose it

A literary fairy tale with a simple, timeless message.

Where it came from

Oscar Wilde wrote many shorter pieces of fiction, including fairytales, during his lifetime. When he was younger, he published these in literary magazines. The Happy Prince and Other Tales was his first book of short stories – he went on to publish three more collections.

Where it went next

The Happy Prince and Other Tales is a collection of five short stories, which Oscar Wilde intended to be read aloud to children. A number of illustrators have produced versions of the story including Alexis Deacon and Michael Foreman.

The Selfish Giant has been adapted many times – it’s been an opera, an animation, a cartoon, and a film.

Associated Stories

The Selfish Giant is included in a collection of five short stories for children. The others are The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Devoted Friend, and The Remarkable Rocket. Wilde wrote other children’s stories including The Fisherman and his Son, The Young King and, The Star-Child.