The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany

Title: The King of Elfland's Daughter
Series: n/a
Author: Lord Dunsany
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Fantasy; Classic
Publisher/Publication Date: Originally published in 1924

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The poetic style and sweeping grandeur of The King of Elfland's Daughter has made it one of the most beloved fantasy novels of our time, a masterpiece that influenced some of the greatest contemporary fantasists. The heartbreaking story of a marriage between a mortal man and an elf princess is a masterful tapestry of the fairy tale following the "happily ever after."

Earlier this year, I read a book called Lud-In-The-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. A pre-Tolkien fantasy classic released in 1926 about the capital of a small fictional country—the titular Lud-in-the-Mist—with a curious history (and potential present) involving fairies. One of the books that I saw that was often compared to and recommended with Lud-in-the-Mist was Lord Dunsany’s 1924 fantasy story, The King of Elfland’s Daughter. And now, having read it for myself, I can say they’re vastly different stories but good for what they are, respectively.

Instead of fairies here, though, there are elves at the focal point as well as other recognizable character types: witches, trolls, unicorns, and willow-the-wisps. The magic was very it-just-exists-deal-with-it, which worked well when contrasting the differences between Elfland and Erl. Besides the vastly differing way time affected each place, the former was touched by a strange and also eerie perfection coupled with something a little dangerous and enigmatic, which was a feeling that never abated. But it was something I liked about the story.

Besides the fantastical aspects, The King of Elfland’s Daughter is a relatively layered story that, at times, felt like a cautionary tale about being mindful about what one wishes for. The parliament of Erl wanted a magic lord, heedless of the time it would take and the potential consequences that would arise from it. Just like how in a lot of fairy tale type stories, there’s always a lesson to be learned in making careless bargains. The initial request was phrased like a simple task, but it could also occupy the role of a bargain, since the substance of the story eventually followed a lot of the same pathways.

I also liked how interpersonal the story was with exploring Alveric’s relationship with Lirazel; how his unwillingness—at first—to meet his wife halfway when it came to beliefs, was one of the turning points that influenced the rest of the story.

If there is something to note, while I enjoyed the story, one thing to keep in mind when approaching it is the fact that there is animal death on page. One character is essentially a hunter, and some parts were detailed.

Besides that, I enjoyed The King of Elfland’s Daughter.