Showing results by author "Dunsany" in All Categories

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.

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...

In Tales of War, Lord Dunsany masterfully weaves together a collection of vivid and enchanting vignettes that explore the stark realities of conflict. His prose shifts seamlessly from the grim and grounded to the eerie and fantastical, offering listeners a unique perspective on the complexities of war. Summary by Ben Tucker.

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. ...

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

Dive into a collection of succinct, masterfully crafted stories that often surprise with unexpected twists. Each tale is infused with mythological elements, inviting readers to awaken their dormant imaginations and explore the wonders of storytelling. (Summary by Thomas Copeland)

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 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 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.

Der Erzähler sitzt im November in einem Londoner Club. Ein Bekannter erzählt von seiner Reise in den Orient.

The Ghosts begins as straightforward haunted house story, one coming out of the Gothic tradition. Our hero, a skeptic, is staying with his brother at an ancient baronial estate. There, he argues with his brother about the existence of ghosts, and what sorts of evidence for their existence would be acceptable. Then, in order to make his point, he proceeds to induce in himself a ghostly experience by means darkness, drugs, and deprivation.

Here is a very short, a very slight sort of tale which may yet manage to hold either a very big ghost or a very potent allegory. Lord Dunsany penned this sometime about the period of the First World War. Yet in what period of history, from the most ancient past up to very present, has not something of the spectre of Andelsprutz been perceptible to those with a sense of history. For those, this story will prove a "thought-piece" as well as a compelling fantasy.

Journey with us through realms of wonder in these tales from the quill pen of Lord Dunsany.

The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories is the third book by Anglo-Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. Le Guin, and others. It was first published in hardcover by George Allen & Sons in October 1908, and has been reprinted a number of times since. Issued by the Modern Library in a combined edition with A Dreamer's Tales as A Dreamer's Tales and Other Stories in 1917.

TIME AND THE GODS is the second book by Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. Le Guin, and others. It is a collection of short stories linked by Dunsany's invented pantheon of deities who dwell in Pegāna. It was preceded by his earlier collection The Gods of Pegāna and followed by some stories in The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories. Dunsany included a brief preface in the original edition and added a new introduction to the 1922 edition.

"The Mermaid's Husband" is a poetic short story by Lord Dunsany, a writer known for his contributions to fantasy literature in the early 20th century. The story revolves around a mermaid and her husband, exploring themes of love, longing, and the complexities of relationships across different worlds. The narrative presents the mermaid as a creature of beauty and the sea, caught between her oceanic home and the world of humans. The husband, who is a human, represents the terrestrial life that clashes with the enchanting but perilous allure of the ocean.