After seven years, the Giant has nothing left to say to his friend the Cornish ogre, and so he returns home to his castle—only to find that in his absence, the children have been playing in his beautiful garden. At once the selfish Giant builds a high wall to keep the children out of the garden. Winter turns into Spring all over the country—but not in the selfish Giant's garden. Across the country Spring turns into Summer and then to Autumn—but in the selfish Giant's garden, the trees refuse to bloom and the birds refuse to sing; they miss the children. The selfish Giant lies shivering in his large bed while Hail, Snow, North Wind, and Frost dance across the garden. But one morning the Giant hears a beautiful noise—what could it be? An unexpected ending gives the story a poignant, wistful quality, and Bill Bell's dazzling illustrations breathe new life into this classic tale. And adults familiar with Oscar Wilde's work will enjoy seeing this gentler, softer side of Wilde. The Selfish Giant is a beautiful book for parents and children to read together during any season.

オスカー・ワイルドが描く本作は、所有欲という孤独と魂の救済を綴った傑作です。壁を築き子供を拒む庭が「永遠の冬」に閉ざされる描写は、他者を排斥し自らの心まで凍てつかせる悲劇の象徴。流麗な文体で語られる利己主義から愛への昇華は、読む者の魂を揺さぶる荘厳な美しさを湛えています。 映像版の豊かな抒情性に対し、原作の行間には巨人の葛藤と崇高な余韻が刻まれています。映像の躍動感とテキストの思索的な深み。両者を併せて味わうことで、ワイルドが本作に託した優しくも痛切な愛の真髄が鮮明に浮かび上がります。