How many short stories compose the collection Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime by Oscar Wilde?

The Canterville Ghost and Other Short Stories, written by Oscar Wilde, is a collection of four short stories, published at different times between 1887 and 1891. The collection showcases Wilde’s talent for irony, fantasy and social criticism, while tackling universal themes such as love, morality and fate.

The Canterville Ghost

This novella tells the story of an old English ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, who haunts an ancestral manor house. The arrival of a modern, pragmatic American family upsets his habits, rendering him powerless in the face of their rationalism. With humor and derision, Oscar Wilde blends the supernatural with satire of the cultural differences between England and the United States.

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime

In this ironic plot, London aristocrat Lord Arthur Savile is told by a palmist that he is destined to commit a crime. Obsessed by this prophecy, he decides to kill someone before his wedding day to free himself. The story is a subtle critique of superstition and the obsession with fate in Victorian society.

The Model Millionaire

This short moral fable features Hughie Erskine, a charming but penniless young man, who offers money to a beggar, unaware that the latter is in fact a wealthy patron in disguise. This light-hearted story illustrates selfless generosity and how kindness can be rewarded in unexpected ways.

The Sphinx Without a Secret

This story tells of the impossible love of a young man fascinated by a mysterious woman. Convinced that she’s hiding a secret, he discovers that she has none, which only deepens his disillusionment. The story explores illusion and idealism in love, recurring themes in Wilde’s work.

Oscar Wilde’s short stories are renowned for their biting tone, humor and critique of Victorian society. In tales where the supernatural and the absurd mingle with fine analyses of human behavior, he takes an ironic yet profound look at the social conventions and beliefs of his time.

The Canterville Ghost, in particular, remains one of his most famous works, appreciated for its original blend of humor, the supernatural and cultural satire. Its success has inspired numerous adaptations for theater, film and television.

The Canterville Ghost and Other Short Stories by Oscar Wilde comprises four short stories, published between 1887 and 1891. In these stories, Wilde explores themes as varied as illusion, fate, morality and the opposition between tradition and modernity. His unique style and subtle humor make him an essential part of English literature, still appreciated by readers the world over.

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