![]() ![]() Russell's exquisite art has a supple ink line that's never fussy. Russell catches this mood perfectly, not trying to overshadow Wilde but merely helping him do his disturbing work. He is, however, suggesting that even the most genuinely beautiful surfaces shouldn't be trusted. Wilde isn't blatantly jeering at hypocrites or credulous fools in these stories. ![]() In "The Nightingale and the Rose," an innocent bird sacrifices itself for the sake of a true love that turns out to be a sham. In "The Devoted Friend," a rich miller who can talk eloquently about friendship exploits his trusting neighbor to the point of death. There are no happy little diversions for children here Wilde appreciated childlike innocence, but he also realized how often it was abused and disappointed in the adult world. Two perfect prose miniatures find their ideal illustrator in this fourth volume of Russell's adaptations from Wilde. ![]()
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