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The Nightingale and the Rose
The Nightingale and the Rose retells Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale in English and Persian. A young Student is in despair because the girl he loves will only dance with him if he brings her a red rose, and there is none in his garden. A Nightingale who has sung about true love every night decides to find him one, whatever it costs. 74-page PDF by Reza Nazari.
Oscar Wilde’s tale of love and sacrifice, in two languages for older children
The Student lies in the grass and cries: the girl he loves has promised to dance with him at the ball only if he brings her a red rose. The Nightingale, listening from her nest in the Oak-tree, decides he is a true lover. She flies from one rose-tree to another, offering her sweetest song in exchange for a single red rose.
This is a 74-page retelling that keeps Wilde’s rich images, such as hair as dark as the hyacinth and a face pale as ivory, and his sharp ending, in which jewels from the Chamberlain’s nephew matter more to the girl than a flower. Please note that a 47-page book with a similar name on this site is Andersen’s The Nightingale, a different story.
At a glance
About the story
The story
A lovesick Student, the rose-trees in the garden, a terrible price for one red rose, and a girl who prefers real jewels.
What children learn
What real love and generosity look like, and how easily they can go unnoticed.
A sad ending
As in Wilde’s original, the ending is bittersweet. Many children find it moving, but it is worth reading ahead first.
Good for
Thoughtful readers, and families who enjoy discussing a story after it ends.
A line from the book
The Student imagines the ball, from the Persian text:
| Persian | English |
|---|---|
| اگر میشد برایش یک گل سرخ ببرم؛ میتوانستیم تا طلوع خورشید با هم برقصیم. | If I could bring her a red rose, we could dance together until sunrise. |
Translated closely from the Persian. The nightingale, بلبل (bolbol), and the rose, گل سرخ (gol-e sorkh), are a famous pair in Persian poetry too.
Reading it together
- Read it over two or three evenings, English first and then the Persian.
- Stop when the Tree tells the Nightingale the price, and ask your child what she should do.
- After the ending, talk about the Student and the girl: did either of them understand love?
- Explore the nightingale and the rose in real Persian verse in the free Persian poetry section.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- have a reader of 8 or older who is ready for a story with a sad ending
- love Oscar Wilde and want his tale in Persian
- want a story that links to a classic image of Persian poetry
Look elsewhere if you
- want Andersen’s tale of the emperor and the nightingale; that is The Nightingale (47 pages)
- want a happy ending for a young child; The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids ends well
Use it with
- The Rose Elf: another tale of flowers, love and loss.
- The Little Match Girl: a short, moving story by Andersen.
Common questions
Is this Oscar Wilde’s story?
Yes. It is a children’s retelling of Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose, with the Student, the Oak-tree, the rose-trees and the Chamberlain’s nephew.
How is it different from the other Nightingale book?
The 47-page book listed with a similar name is Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale, about an emperor of China. This 74-page book is Wilde’s story.
What age is it for?
About 8 to 12, because the ending is sad and the language is more poetic than in most fairy tales.
What do I get after I buy?
A 74-page PDF, downloadable as soon as you complete checkout, for a tablet or computer or for printing.
Is there a paperback?
Yes, there is a paperback on Amazon. This page sells the PDF.
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