"The Happy Prince"

Lyman Frank Baum (1856 - 1919) is most famous for "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its sequels, a total of 14 novels in the Oz series. He also wrote this, published in 1902, a "biography" about Santa Claus - where he grew up, who raised him, how he became immortal, and (probably the biggest discovery of all) how he's able to deliver all those presents in just one night.

William Sydney Porter, (1862 - 1910) is known by his author name, "O.Henry." He was an American short-story writer whose tales romanticized everyday life — in particular the life of ordinary people in New York City. This story was published in 1905, and, according to legend, in Pete's Tavern on Irving Place, in Manhattan, some say moved by romance in his own life, others think witnessing a stolen glance from one fellow to his beau, he sat and penned one of the most enduring love stories of Christmas.

Mary Botham Howitt (March 12, 1799 – January 30, 1888) was an English poet, and became interested in Scandinavian literature during the 1840s and, having learned Swedish and Danish, she translated many of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales for the delight of English children.  She may have been influenced by the dark side of some of his stories when she wrote her most famous piece, "The Spider and the Fly."

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (August 30, 1797 – February 1, 1851) edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She created this story on a rainy afternoon in 1816 in Geneva, where she was staying with her husband and their friends. The group, stuck indoors by the inclement weather, passed the time telling and writing ghost stories. This is considered the earliest form of science fiction and the most famous "gothic novel" of all time.

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1896), is better known by his pen name of Lewis Carroll. He was an English writer of children's fiction but, is most famous for writing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel, "Alice Through the Looking-Glass." His talent at word play, logic, and fantasy and has been loved for generations, and is still enjoyed, today.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote many fairy tales but this, by far, is his most famous. "The Little Mermaid" follows the journey of a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea to gain a human soul. The tale was first published in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales for children and has since been adapted, many times, for movies, television, and live theater.

Lyman Frank Baum (1856 - 1919) was an American author who wrote 41 novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He is most famous for his children's books, particularly "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its sequels, a total of 14 novels in the Oz series. This is the introduction and the first two chapters of the first book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875) was a Danish author, a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems. But, he is best remembered for his fairy tales, which are not limited to children; his stories express themes that transcend age and nationality, to this day. These are two such examples - "The Princess & the Pea" and "The Emperor's New Suit."

Helen Beatrix Potter (1866 - 1943) wrote and illustrated many books for children featuring animals who acted like people. This is two stories she wrote; one about a naughty kitten and the other about two bad mice.

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854 – 1900) wrote in many different forms throughout the 1880s, when in the early 1890s he became one of the most popular playwrights in London. He wrote a collection of stories for children first published in May 1888. It contains five stories: "The Happy Prince," "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Devoted Friend," and "The Remarkable Rocket."