Audiobooks Fantasy Fiction The Story of the Glittering Plain
The Story of the Glittering Plain

The Story of the Glittering Plain

by William MORRIS (1834 - 1896)

In this early example of the modern high fantasy genre, Hallblithe, a warrior of the House of Raven, sets out in pursuit of the pirates who have kidnapped his troth-plight maiden, the Hostage. Kidnapped himself, Hallblithe sails to the Isle of Ransom in the company of the giant Puny Fox. Travelling onward to the Land of the Glittering Plain, he spurns the offer of eternal youth and the hand of the King's daughter to continue the search for his beloved. First published in 1890 in the English Illustrated Magazine, The Story of the Glittering Plain was re-published in 1973 as the first volume of the celebrated Newcastle Forgotten Fantasy Library. This recording is read from the gloriously printed 1891 Kelmscott Press edition, with illustrations by Walter Crane. (Phil Benson) - Summary by Phil Benson


A Feast in the Isle of Ransom

Evil tidings come to hand at Cleveland

Hallblithe amongst the Mountains

Hallblithe beholdeth the woman who loveth him

Hallblithe builds him a skiff

Hallblithe dwelleth in the wood alone

Hallblithe has speech with the King again

Hallblithe taketh ship again away from the Isle of Ransom

Now Hallblithe taketh the Sea

Of a Dwelling of Man on the Isle of Ransom

Of the Fight of the Champions in the Hall of the Ravagers

Of those Three who came unto Hallblithe to the House of the Raven

So now saileth Hallblithe away from the Glittering Plain

The Sea-eagle reneweth his life

The Warriors of the Raven search the Seas

They come to the Land of the Glittering Plain

They come unto the Isle of Ransom

They go from the Isle of Ransom and come to Cleveland by the Sea

They hold converse with Folk of the Glittering Plain

They look on the the King of the Glittering Plain

Those three go their ways to the edge of the Glittering Plain

Yet Hallblithe speaketh with the King