Showing results by author "Lord Dunsany" in All Categories

A fun adventure in a Spain that never was, in the vein of Dumas and Stevenson, with more than a taste of Cervantes. Don Rodriguez is a young nobleman who is banished from the family castle, and must set out with his rapier and mandolin to win his own estate, and perhaps even a bride. Along with his trusty servant Morano, he journeys far into the heart of the mythical Shadow Valley. Echoes of The Princess Bride resonate throughout.

The story began when the lord of Erl was told by his people they wanted a magic lord to rule them. That took some doing, but he sent his son, Alveric, to retrieve Lirazel, daughter of the king of Elfland, to be his wife and thus fix the situation. At first, the king was angered and sent guards to kill Alveric, but the young man of Erl fought them off, and Lizarel fell for him and decided to leave with him. Later, under a spell, she decided she wanted to see her old home again.

The Gods of Pegana was the book that marked the transition from imaginary creatures in the real world to the gods of imaginary world. Lord Dunsany was the most influential writer in the genre that came to be known as fantasy, of which his stories set trends for that continue to this day.

The great fantasy writer Lord Dunsany wrote very little in the way of fantasy after the onset of the First World War. This was partly because he was busy, having volunteered in 1915 and becoming a Captain in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Derry. However, the reality of the world bore in on our hero at this time, and it is not difficult to imagine that his heart moved to more serious concerns. Dunsany’s days of high fantasy, it seems, ended with the emergence of civil unrest in his nation.

Edward Plunkett, better known as Lord Dunsany, published this tale of the Wild Things in 1908. In this story one of the creatures desires to obtain a soul in order to partake in the joy of human music and worship, which she can't experience without it.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of The King of Elflands Daughter, a timeless fantasy novel penned by the illustrious Anglo-Irish writer Lord Dunsany in 1924. Now in the public domain since January 2020, this masterpiece is celebrated as one of the cornerstones of fantasy literature. Dunsanys work is a profound influence on the fantasy genre, particularly in the realms of fairytale fantasy and high fantasy. At its heart, the novel explores enduring themes such as the power of love, the beauty of nature, the quest for fulfillment, the pursuit of fame, the longing for immortality, and ...

Anyone who has to spend the better part of his days chained to a routine job in our workaday world will appreciate the sorcery that captured the heart of Mr. Sladden. That gentleman's experience in finding a private peep-hole out of this world is one we all may envy.

This is a happy, feel-good tale by Lord Dunsany aka Edward Plunkett, the 18th Baron of Dunsany. Read by award-winning narrator Mike Vendetti, the wild things take you into their world.

The Book of Wonder is one of the most important books in the lineage of fantasy fiction. It introduced themes that Lord Dunsany worked with for the rest of his career, which created tropes that you'll recognise as if you've read and loved this book many times before.

Sent forth on a quest to bring magic to the Vale of Erl, the young lord Alveric obtains a sword of thunderbolt iron, and crosses the twilight border into Elfland, returning with the beautiful Princess Lirazel as his bride. But, for two people from different worlds, however much in love, happiness is not guaranteed, and in the fields, we know, where all things are subject to the remorseless march of time, nothing truly lives happily ever after.

Explore the enchanting world crafted by Lord Dunsany, a pioneering Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist whose influence on fantasy literature is profound. Born in London in 1878, Dunsany drew inspiration from the evocative poetry of Algernon Swinburne, who famously mused, Time and the Gods are at strife, as well as the whimsical fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. His unique storytelling style has left an indelible mark on the works of influential authors such as H. P. Lovecraft and Ursula K. Le Guin. The correspondence between Dunsany and Arthur C. Clarke, spanning from...

While he is primarily celebrated for his groundbreaking fantasy works, Lord Dunsany also penned a series of poignant sketches during World War One. This collection of essays, crafted during his time in France in 1916, reveals a deeper, more reflective side of the author—one that captures the somber realities of war with a profound sense of melancholy. - Summary by Alan Winterrowd

Step into the enchanting world of Tales of Wonder, originally published as The Last Book of Wonder, the tenth installment and sixth collection of original short stories by the celebrated Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany. Renowned for his profound influence on literary giants such as J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, and Ursula K. Le Guin, Dunsanys work captures the imagination like no other. First released in hardcover in London by Elkin Mathews in October 1916, with a Boston edition following shortly after, this collection showcases Dunsany’s preferred title in its American release. ...

Dreamers Tales is the fifth book by the acclaimed Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, whose work has significantly influenced literary giants such as H. P. Lovecraft, J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Michael Moorcock. This enchanting collection features sixteen captivating short stories that range from the nostalgic charm of Blagdaross to the unsettling themes found in Poor Old Bill and Where the Tides Ebb and Flow, as well as the sharp social commentary of The Day of the Poll. Prepare to embark on a fantastical journey through Dunsanys imaginative landscapes.

Embark on a captivating coming-of-age journey as you follow Don Rodriguez through a swashbuckling road trip set in a mythical golden age of Spain. Excluded from inheriting his familys grand castle, Rodriguez is challenged to win his own estate and bride using his remarkable skills with both sword and mandolin. Along the way, he teams up with the endearing Morano, a Sancho Panza-like servant, and together they navigate a series of whimsical adventures filled with humor and intrigue. Lord Dunsany, a master of fantasy and a significant influence on literary giants like J.R.R. Tolkien and Neil ...

Join me, ladies and gentlemen, if you find yourself weary of London and tired of the familiar world around you. Together, we will explore new realms of imagination and wonder, as inspired by Lord Dunsanys enchanting preface to The Book of Wonder.

Dive into The Book of Wonder (1912), a captivating collection of fourteen enchanting tales by the legendary Lord Dunsany, a true pioneer of the fantasy genre. Filled with whimsy and wit, these delightful stories have inspired countless writers, including the likes of H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and Fritz Leiber. Prepare to be transported to realms of imagination! -Erik

Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, (July 24, 1878 - October 25, 1957), commonly known as Lord Dunsany, was an Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist who published more than 90 books during his lifetime, as well as hundreds of short stories, plays, and essays. He gained a name in the 1910s as a great writer in the English-speaking world. The following recording includes the short stories "The Sword of Welleran" and "Carcassone."

The Book of Wonder is a collection of short stories by Lord Dunsany, published in 1912. It is a remarkable work that showcases Dunsany's imaginative storytelling and his mastery of creating vivid and fantastical worlds. The book consists of numerous individual tales, each offering a glimpse into a unique realm filled with magic, mythology, and mystery.

The Parliament of Erl tells their king that they want a more magical king for the future. They believe magic will bring fame to their beloved, but unknown, little village. Honoring their request, the king sends his son to Elfland to seek as his bride the King of Elfland's Daughter. The story travels from Erl to Elfland and back again meeting along the way magical creatures and enchanted lands as well as landscapes among the fields we know. The story unfolds as the magical and mundane worlds fail to mix quite as easily as the Parliament of Erl had planned.