The King Of Elfland's Daughter

The King of Elfland's daughter tells the tale of a human prince who is dispatched by his father to woo and wed the elf princess of a mystical land.Why it's on the listLord Dunsany created a world that featured a few set pieces that every modern sword and sorcery author tends to include in their own works. Magic Kingdoms with strange and unearthly residents; A dashing and courageous prince with a magic sword; unicorns that only ever graze near haunted and eery forests and even the stereotypical bumbling and slightly comedic troll. What would modern fantasy be without these? In actual fact, these set pieces (with a few minor tweaks) make up some of the most captivating scenes of a certain novel written by J.K. Rowling…Lord Dunsany is known for guiding us all out of the traditional fairy tale type narratives, and into what would become High Fantasy. At times poetic, soulful, light-hearted and sorrow-filled, this book is a wonderful way to gain an understanding of what was (fairy tales) and what fantasy becomes (high fantasy, sword, and sorcery with epic but flawed heroes).The way the King of Efland's Daughter explores the marriage of a mortal man and an elf princess: her yearning for home, his endless quest to return to the arms of his beloved, and the ensuing fallout from all these adventures, make for an entertaining read. More importantly, it highlights how fantasy can be a powerful tool for exploring the human condition.Read if you likeWorld Building and Quests.