"A fantasy novel in a class with the Tolkien books."—L. Sprague de Camp
"It could be the very best fairy story ever written."—Gahan Wilson
"No amount of mere description can convey more than a fraction of Lord Dunsany's pervasive charm."—H. P. Lovecraft
One of the most influential and acclaimed works in all of fantasy literature, this captivating tale is the forerunner of modern sword and sorcery novels. It tells of a young lord's quest through a supernatural world in search of a fairy princess bride, recounting the lovers' romance, separation, and reunion. Rich in metaphor, vivid in imagery, the lyrical storytelling evokes a sense of innocent wonder. Its fans range from W. B. Yeats, who wrote that Dunsany "had transfigured with beauty the common sights of the world," to Arthur C. Clarke, who felt that the novel helped elevate the author to "one of the greatest writers of this century."