The King of the Golden River

Name: The King of the Golden River
Author: John Ruskin

The King of the Golden River is a classic fairy tale by John Ruskin, first published in 1851. It tells the story of three brothers, Gluck, Hans, and Schwartz, who live in the Austrian Tyrol. The brothers are selfish and cruel, and their behavior has caused the land around them to become barren and dry. One day, an old man appears and tells them of a magical river that flows with gold. He tells them that if they can find the river, they will become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. The brothers set off on a quest to find the river, but they soon find themselves in danger as they encounter a mysterious figure known as the King of the Golden River. The King of the Golden River tests the brothers’ character and courage, and only Gluck is able to pass the test. He is rewarded with a golden key that unlocks the secret of the river. Gluck is able to use the river’s gold to restore the land and bring prosperity back to the Tyrol. The King of the Golden River is a timeless tale of courage, kindness, and the power of redemption. It is a classic of children’s literature and has been adapted into plays, films, and television shows.

By John Ruskin · First published 1842 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Children's Literature · 6 chapters · 9,894 words

First lines

"The King of the Golden River" is a delightful fairy tale told with all Ruskin's charm of style, his appreciation of mountain scenery, and with his usual insistence upon drawing a moral. None the less, it is quite unlike his other writings. All his life long his pen was busy interpreting nature and pictures and architecture, or persuading to better views those whom he believed to be in error, or arousing, with the white heat of a prophet's zeal, those whom he knew to be unawakened. There is indeed a good deal of the prophet about John Ruskin. Though essentially an interpreter with a singularly fine appreciation of beauty, no man of the nineteenth century felt more keenly that he had a mission, and none was more loyal to what he believed that mission to be.

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The King of the Golden River is listed on Textopian as a novella by John Ruskin, dated 1842 CE.

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Work type: Novella
Author: John Ruskin
Date: 1842 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Romanticism
Length: 9,894 words
Structure: 6 chapters, 153 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The King of the Golden River is a fantasy story about three brothers who are transformed into a black, a white, and a golden dwarf by a magical river.
Fairy Tale — The King of the Golden River is a classic fairy tale with a moral lesson about the consequences of greed and selfishness.
Children's Literature — The King of the Golden River was written by John Ruskin as a children's story and is still popular among young readers today.
Romanticism — The King of the Golden River is a romantic story with a focus on the power of love and the beauty of nature.