Vaggeryds bibliotek

"The Devoted Friend" from the 19th century is an unconventional classic for children and adults alike. The Water-rat tells the story of Big Hugh and his friend Hans, whose friendship is not what it seems, and certainly not easy. This story within the story tells of friendship, its importance and how it can go wrong. This ageless fairy tale is a dark and funny short story created by Oscar Wilde is now read by B.J. Harrison. It was also adapted into an animated TV movie in 2003 called 'Wilde Stories: The Devoted Friend.'

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish author, poet and playwright, who became one of the most famous – as well as scandalous – playwrights in London in the late 19th century. Wilde is remembered for his witty plays, such as 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and his Gothic novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', set in the Victorian era. His works have lived on in stage and film adaptations. Recent adaptations of his stories include the film 'Dorian Gray'(2009), with Ben Barnes as the famous main character.

B. J. Harrison started his Classic Tales Podcast back in 2007, wanting to breathe new life into classic stories. He masterfully plays with a wide array of voices and accents and has since then produced over 500 audiobooks. Now in collaboration with SAGA Egmont, his engaging narration of these famous classics is available to readers everywhere.