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jelliestars's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
rschmidt7's review against another edition
5.0
Morris is a master! If you love English literature and the atmosphere of a Pre-Raphaelite painting, and if you enjoy, rather than shrink from, deliberately archaic medievalism, then read his works, especially "The Well at the World's End," his masterpiece.
lemeilleurs's review against another edition
1.0
I read books to relax and escape from reality for a while. But when a book takes so much effort to comprehend, translate, and read the footnotes that I cannot possibly escape this reality, I don't enjoy it. Seriously, this book took way to much energy and time for me to enjoy or comprehend what was happening.
matthewcutchen's review against another edition
4.0
Been interested in fantastical tales post-Enlightenment but before the codified bookshelf genres of “fantasy/science fiction/horror” for a while now—I’ve actually done fair amount of research about it—but haven’t really sat down and read much of it intentionally.
I feel like I’ve had a lot more experience with the “scientific romances” (aka photo-science fiction) of Wells and Verne, but not the larger scope of magical/fablistic books from that time and before.
Found my way to this because William Morris is know for being the precursor to the modern fantasy genre. Had a nice mix of chivalry and fairytale filtered through a late-19th century sensibility. Very clearly a huge influence on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, so definitely a thumbs up for me.
I feel like I’ve had a lot more experience with the “scientific romances” (aka photo-science fiction) of Wells and Verne, but not the larger scope of magical/fablistic books from that time and before.
Found my way to this because William Morris is know for being the precursor to the modern fantasy genre. Had a nice mix of chivalry and fairytale filtered through a late-19th century sensibility. Very clearly a huge influence on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, so definitely a thumbs up for me.
readnext's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
silverthorn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
superfiggy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
A novel from the inventor of the modern fantasy genre
In a foreword to the edition in my library, Lin Carter, a fantasy author of no small skill and acclaim himself, wrote:
THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD is “the first great fantasy novel ever written: the first of them all; all the others, Dunsany, Eddison, Pratt, Tolkien, Peake, Howard, et al, are successors to this great original … [a] tale of quest, adventure or war set in an invented age and worldscape of the author’s own imagination.”
It’s all there – heroism and bravery, magic and wizardry, love and lust, good and evil, monsters, swordplay and more. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine one of Morris’ characters planting the seed in Tolkien’s brain that sprouted ultimately into a venal, craven Gollum in LORD OF THE RINGS.
But, forsooth, it is beyond doubt that the parlance of this tale and the words which fall from the fair mouths of the Man, the Maid and the Lady, will seem passing strange in your ears. Nor willst thou wot their meaning withal. But if a reader bide himself in repose, tender patience and calm wisdom, willt thou soon see that meaning, narrative and beauty, hitherto hidden and not forthcoming, will reveal themselves in the fullness of time with all charm and warmth. Then, in that fullness, friends of the Man and the Maid such as thyself will bear pleased witness to the story’s complete discarding of the unseemly raiment of linguistic disguise. Belike the will to seek rest will abandon thee and thou wouldst fain continue to read with complete understanding and joy until the hours are small and the night is past its midmost.
Highly recommended for readers and self-described students of the fantasy genre.
Paul Weiss
In a foreword to the edition in my library, Lin Carter, a fantasy author of no small skill and acclaim himself, wrote:
THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD is “the first great fantasy novel ever written: the first of them all; all the others, Dunsany, Eddison, Pratt, Tolkien, Peake, Howard, et al, are successors to this great original … [a] tale of quest, adventure or war set in an invented age and worldscape of the author’s own imagination.”
It’s all there – heroism and bravery, magic and wizardry, love and lust, good and evil, monsters, swordplay and more. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine one of Morris’ characters planting the seed in Tolkien’s brain that sprouted ultimately into a venal, craven Gollum in LORD OF THE RINGS.
But, forsooth, it is beyond doubt that the parlance of this tale and the words which fall from the fair mouths of the Man, the Maid and the Lady, will seem passing strange in your ears. Nor willst thou wot their meaning withal. But if a reader bide himself in repose, tender patience and calm wisdom, willt thou soon see that meaning, narrative and beauty, hitherto hidden and not forthcoming, will reveal themselves in the fullness of time with all charm and warmth. Then, in that fullness, friends of the Man and the Maid such as thyself will bear pleased witness to the story’s complete discarding of the unseemly raiment of linguistic disguise. Belike the will to seek rest will abandon thee and thou wouldst fain continue to read with complete understanding and joy until the hours are small and the night is past its midmost.
Highly recommended for readers and self-described students of the fantasy genre.
Paul Weiss
jepha's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful and whimsical fairy tale, I read the audiobook version which is only 5 hours long.
Not the sorry of book I would normally read but a welcome change.
Not the sorry of book I would normally read but a welcome change.