The King of Elfland's Daughter

"The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Lord Dunsany follows Alveric, the son of the Lord of Erl, who embarks on a quest to marry the King of Elfland's daughter, Lirazel, after his people demand a magic ruler. He crosses into the enchanted realm of Elfland, where he encounters various magical beings and challenges, including a fierce battle with the King's knights. Armed with a magical sword forged by a witch, Alveric ultimately defeats the knights and escapes with Lirazel back to the mortal realm. Upon their return, they discover that ten years have passed in Erl, during which time has flowed differently in Elfland. Alveric and Lirazel marry, and they have a son, heralding a new era for the Vale of Erl, which is now destined for greatness. The story explores themes of love, the passage of time, and the intersection of the mundane and the magical.

By Lord Dunsany · First published 1924 · Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Mythopoeia · 34 chapters · 77,302 words

First lines

In their ruddy jackets of leather that reached to their knees the men of Erl appeared before their lord, the stately white-haired man in his long red room. He leaned in his carven chair and heard their spokesman.

And thus their spokesman said.

What this Textopian page supports

The King of Elfland's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a novel by Lord Dunsany, dated 1924 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Lord Dunsany
• Date: 1924 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mythopoeia, Adventure, Literary Fiction
• Length: 77,302 words
• Structure: 34 chapters, 777 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The King of Elfland's Daughter?
• How does this novel by Lord Dunsany fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Wood Beyond The World by William Morris
• Becuma Of The White Skin by James Stephens
• The Water Of The Wondrous Isles by William Morris
• The Worm And The Angel by Lord Dunsany
• Lud In The Mist by Hope Mirrlees
• Alone The Immortals by Lord Dunsany

Genres

• Fantasy — The book is set in a mythical world and features magical elements, including elves and enchantments.
• Romance — The central plot revolves around the love story between the protagonist and the Elfin princess.
• Mythopoeia — The narrative creates a rich mythology and explores themes of creation and the nature of reality.
• Adventure — The characters embark on a quest that involves exploration and encounters with fantastical beings.

Tags

Fantasy · Mythology · Fairy Tale · Romance · Adventure · Magic · Elves · Kingdoms · Quests · Love Story · Coming of Age · Self Discovery

Contents

• The Plan of the Parliament of Erl
• Alveric Comes in Sight of the Elfin Mountains
• The Magical Sword Meets some of the Swords of Elfland
• Alveric Comes Back to Earth after Many Years
• The Wisdom of the Parliament of Erl
• The Rune of the Elf King
• The Coming of the Troll
• The Arrival of the Rune
• Lirazel Blows Away
• The Ebbing of Elfland
• The Deep of the Woods
• The Unenchanted Plain
• The Reticence of the Leather-Worker
• The Quest for the Elfin Mountains
• The Retreat of the Elf King
• Orion Hunts the Stag
• The Unicorn Comes in the Starlight
• The Grey Tent in the Evening
• Twelve Old Men Without Magic
• A Historical Fact
• On the Verge of Earth
• Orion Appoints a Whip
• Lurulu Watches the Restlessness of Earth
• Lurulu Speaks of Earth and the Ways of Men
• Lirazel Remembers the Fields we Know
• The Horn of Alveric
• The Return of Lurulu
• A Chapter on Unicorn-Hunting
• The Luring of the People of the Marshes
• The Coming of too Much Magic
• The Cursing of Elfin Things
• Lirazel Yearns for Earth
• The Shining Line
• The Last Great Rune

More by Lord Dunsany

• The Assignation (1916)
• Charon (1920)
• The Death of Pan (1910)
• The Sphinx at Giza (1926)
• The Hen (1917)
• Wind and Fog (1921)
• The Raft-Builders (1920)
• The Workman (1916)
• All works by Lord Dunsany