My first time reading Morris, and what a curious book! Just before the beginning of the 20th Century, Morris affected to write in something resembling Early Modern English. This struck me as a bit silly at first, until I found the rhythm of his prose. It's actually very beautiful.
Another reviewer on Goodreads described the story as "horny". There are no descriptions of sex, but the entire work is suffused with a graceful eroticism.
I somewhat regret opting to read The Wood Beyond the World for the first time as a Kindle edition from an unknown publisher. Morris was a textile artist, printer, and typeface designer who first published the book through his own Kelmscott Press. Apparently, there's a Dover edition that is a facsimile of the original 1894 printing. I must have that for my shelf, and must read the rest of Morris' work.