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The King of Elfland's Daughter (1924). Having established himself as a bestselling author of short fiction, Dunsany published The King of Elfland's Daughter, his second novel. Recognized as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction, Dunsany is a man whose work, in the words of H. P. Lovecraft, remains "unexcelled in the sorcery of crystalline singing prose, and supreme in the creation of a gorgeous and languorous world of incandescently exotic vision." In accordance with tradition, the Lord of Erl assents to the will of the people, who wish to be ruled by a magical being. In order to fulfill their request, he sends his son Alveric, a trustworthy young man, to the realm of Elfland, where time moves slowly and citizens live long, prosperous lives. There, Alveric falls in love with Lirazel, the daughter of the King, and convinces her to return to Erl as his wife. He arrives triumphantly, but soon Lirazel grows tired of the ways of men. Caught between the demands of tradition and the desires of his heart, Alveric must decide to whom he will remain loyal. Largely forgotten after its publication, The King of Elfland's Daughter was eventually recognized as a groundbreaking work of high fantasy and fairytale fiction. This edition of Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter is a classic of British fantasy fiction reimagined for modern readers.
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About the author
Anglo-Irish author and dramatist Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany also known as Lord Dunsany, lived from 18 July 1878 to 25 October 1957. His fantasy book The King of Elfland's Daughter, published in 1924, is his best-known work. Lord Dunsany was a well-known member of the Plunkett family and a distant relative of several prominent Irish figures. In 1916, he separated from Sir Reginald Drax, his only sibling, for unspecified reasons that appear to be connected to his mother's will. One person's infant brother passed away. He sustained injuries from a bullet that became lodged in his skull during the Easter Rising during World War One. He was prosecuted and found guilty of court-martial contempt during the Irish War of Independence. In Shoreham, Kent, he was particularly active during the Battle of Britain. In 1919, Dunsany traveled to America for the first time to promote his writing. He had a good relationship with people like Lady Gregory, Padraic Colum, Oliver St. John Gogarty, "AE" Russell, Percy French, and W. B. Yeats. In 1957, Lord Dunsany passed away from an appendicitis attack. He was laid to rest at the Shoreham, Kent, churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul. At a memorial service in Meath's Kilmessan, "Crossing the Bar" was read.
Summary
The King of Elfland’s Daughter (1924). Having established himself as a bestselling author of short fiction, Dunsany published The King of Elfland’s Daughter, his second novel. Recognized as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction, Dunsany is a man whose work, in the words of H. P. Lovecraft, remains “unexcelled in the sorcery of crystalline singing prose, and supreme in the creation of a gorgeous and languorous world of incandescently exotic vision.” In accordance with tradition, the Lord of Erl assents to the will of the people, who wish to be ruled by a magical being. In order to fulfill their request, he sends his son Alveric, a trustworthy young man, to the realm of Elfland, where time moves slowly and citizens live long, prosperous lives. There, Alveric falls in love with Lirazel, the daughter of the King, and convinces her to return to Erl as his wife. He arrives triumphantly, but soon Lirazel grows tired of the ways of men. Caught between the demands of tradition and the desires of his heart, Alveric must decide to whom he will remain loyal. Largely forgotten after its publication, The King of Elfland’s Daughter was eventually recognized as a groundbreaking work of high fantasy and fairytale fiction. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Lord Dunsany’s The King of Elfland’s Daughter is a classic of British fantasy fiction reimagined for modern readers.
