The King of Elfland's Daughter


Read by Michele Fry

(3.9 stars; 28 reviews)

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) (7 hr 17 min)

Chapters

01 Preface and The Plan of the Parliament of Erl 15:24 Read by Michele Fry
02 Alveric Comes in Sight of the Elfin Mountains 14:45 Read by Michele Fry
03 The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland 15:57 Read by Michele Fry
04 Alveric Comes Back to Earth After Many Years 8:45 Read by Michele Fry
05 The Wisdom of the Parliament of Erl 13:22 Read by Michele Fry
06 The Rune of the Elf King 8:06 Read by Michele Fry
07 The Coming of the Troll 11:57 Read by Michele Fry
08 The Arrival of the Rune 14:50 Read by Michele Fry
09 Lirazel Blows Away 10:27 Read by Michele Fry
10 The Ebbing of Elfland 12:30 Read by Michele Fry
11 The Deep of the Woods 13:15 Read by Michele Fry
12 The Unenchanted Plain 13:28 Read by Michele Fry
13 The Reticence of the Leather-Worker 10:50 Read by Michele Fry
14 The Quest for the Elfin Mountains 11:49 Read by Michele Fry
15 The Retreat of the Elf King 12:21 Read by Michele Fry
16 Orion Hunts the Stag 13:47 Read by Michele Fry
17 The Unicorn Comes in the Starlight 6:11 Read by Michele Fry
18 The Grey Tent in the Evening 11:23 Read by Michele Fry
19 Twelve Old Men Without Magic 16:20 Read by Michele Fry
20 A Historical Fact 11:31 Read by Michele Fry
21 On the Verge of Earth 13:30 Read by Michele Fry
22 Orion Appoints a Whip 14:26 Read by Michele Fry
23 Lurulu Watches the Restlessness 14:31 Read by Michele Fry
24 Lurulu Speaks of Earth and the Ways of Men 13:30 Read by Michele Fry
25 Lirazel Remembers the Fields We Know 18:18 Read by Michele Fry
26 The Horn of Alveric 18:53 Read by Michele Fry
27 The Return of Lurulu 13:29 Read by Michele Fry
28 A Chapter on Unicorn-Hunting 10:04 Read by Michele Fry
29 The Luring of the People of the Marshes 11:43 Read by Michele Fry
30 The Coming of Too Much Magic 10:47 Read by Michele Fry
31 The Cursing of Elfin Things 7:15 Read by Michele Fry
32 Lirazel Yearns for Earth 11:37 Read by Michele Fry
33 The Shining Line 14:11 Read by Michele Fry
34 The Last Great Rune 18:26 Read by Michele Fry

Reviews

Beautiful


(4 stars)

This is my favorite work by Lord Dunsany. It's like an extended piece of prose poetry. It's not really driven by plot, so you have to take it at its own pace. It feels like something created in its own world. It's so unusual to hear a story of Elves and Men that seems to come from a completely different well of inspiration than what inspired Tolkien.


(4 stars)

The reader is perfect for this story, her voice ebb and flows with the rhyme.