John Galsworthy – The Man of Property

John Galsworthy viewed English society from within the world of upper bourgeoisie. He did not show much interest in the great world beyond and beneath his class, though in his plays he expressed a deep sense of revolt against social injustice in contemporary society. Late-Victorian and post-Victorian life is criticized in his novels by exposing not the miseries of the poor but the complacency of the aquisitive possessive rich… read more

Oskar Wilde – Art for Art’s Sake

The Happy Prince is a statue which sees from the pedestal on which it is placed the sad and miserable life of the poor inhabitants of the town over which the Happy Prince ruled when he was alive. A little swallow which had remained behind, when its companions flew to Egypt in autumn, consented to become the statue’s messenger and help the suffering poor by bringing them the precious stones which were the statue’s eyes, the ruby encrusted on its sword-hilt, and the gold leaves with which it was covered. The swallow became so attached to the statue, when it became blind and bare, that it could not leave it and go to Egypt any more although it was winter. In the end it died of cold… read more