01 Preface and The Plan of the Parliament of Erl

The King of Elfland's Daughter

by Lord DUNSANY (1878 - 1957)

This is a 1924 fantasy novel by Anglo-Irish writer Lord Dunsany, which became public domain in January 2020. 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. (Summary by Wikipedia and Soloist, Michele Fry)

Listen next episodes of The King of Elfland's Daughter:
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