The King of Elfland's Daughter

This is a fantasy novel by Anglo-Irish writer Lord Dunsany. It is widely recognized as one of the most acclaimed works in all of fantasy literature. Highly influential upon the fantasy genre as a whole, the novel was particularly formative in the subgenres of "fairytale fantasy" and "high fantasy". And yet, it deals always with the truth: the power of love, the allure of nature, the yearning for contentment, the desire for fame, the quest for immortality, and the lure and the fear of magic. Arthur C. Clarke said this novel helped cement Dunsany as "one of the greatest writers of this century". Receiving numerous accolades, Gahan Wilson called it "likely Dunsany's masterpiece", concluding "it could be the very best fairy story ever written". This reader agrees, describing it as the most sensuous piece of writing she has ever recorded . . . simple, lilting, alluring, suggestive, mesmerizing, invigorating, inspiring, and thoroughly original.

By : Lord Dunsany (1878 - 1957)

01 - Preface and The Plan of the Parliament of Erl 02 - Alveric Comes in Sight of the Elfin Mountains 03 - The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland 04 - Alveric Comes Back to Earth After Many Years 05 - The Wisdom of the Parliament of Erl 06 - The Rune of the Elf King 07 - The Coming of the Troll 08 - The Arrival of the Rune 09 - Lirazel Blows Away 10 - The Ebbing of Elfland 11 - The Deep of the Woods 12 - The Unenchanted Plain 13 - The Reticence of the Leather-Worker 14 - The Quest for the Elfin Mountains 15 - The Retreat of the Elf King 16 - Orion Hunts the Stag 17 - The Unicorn Comes in the Starlight 18 - The Grey Tent in the Evening 19 - Twelve Old Men Without Magic 20 - A Historical Fact 21 - On the Verge of Earth 22 - Orion Appoints a Whip 23 - Lurulu Watches the Restlessness 24 - Lurulu Speaks of Earth and the Ways of Men 25 - Lirazel Remembers the Fields We Know 26 - The Horn of Alveric 27 - The Return of Lurulu 28 - A Chapter on Unicorn-Hunting 29 - The Luring of the People of the Marshes 30 - The Coming of Too Much Magic 31 - The Cursing of Elfin Things 32 - Lirazel Yearns for Earth 33 - The Shining Line 34 - The Last Great Rune

The lord of Erl is told by the parliament of his people that they want to be ruled by a magic lord. Obeying the immemorial custom, the lord sends his son Alveric to fetch the King of Elfland's daughter, Lirazel, to be his bride. He makes his way to Elfland, where time passes at a rate far slower than the real world, and wins her. They return to Erl and have a son, but in the manner of fairy brides of folklore, she fits uneasily with his people. She returns to the waiting arms of her father in Elfland, and her lovesick husband goes searching for her, abandoning the kingdom of Erl and wandering in a now-hopeless quest. However, Lirazel becomes lonesome for her mortal husband and son. Seeing that she is unhappy, the King of Elfland uses a powerful magic to engulf the land of Erl. Erl is transformed into a part of Elfland, and Lirazel and her loved ones are reunited forever in an eternal, enchanted world.

During the course of the novel, the King of Elfland uses up all of the three powerful magic spells he had been reserving for the defense of his realm.