The Wood Beyond the World
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''The Wood Beyond the World'' is a
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
novel by
William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...
, perhaps the first modern fantasy writer to unite an imaginary world with the element of the supernatural, and thus the precursor of much of present-day fantasy literature. It was first published in hardcover by Morris's
Kelmscott Press The Kelmscott Press, founded by William Morris and Emery Walker, published fifty-three books in sixty-six volumes between 1891 and 1898. Each book was designed and ornamented by Morris and printed by hand in limited editions of around 300. Many ...
, in 1894. The book's importance in the history of fantasy literature was recognized by its republication by
Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains ...
as the third volume of the
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of American publisher Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 (presumably in response to the growing popularity of Tolkien's works), the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature which ...
in July, 1969. The Ballantine edition includes an introduction by
Lin Carter Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. L ...
.


Plot

When the wife of Golden Walter betrays him for another man, he leaves home on a trading voyage to avoid the necessity of a feud with her family. However, his efforts are fruitless, as word comes to him ''en route'' that his wife's clan has killed his father. He has a vision of three figures: a stately Lady, her Maid, who wears an iron ring on her anklet, and a Dwarf in a yellow hood. The figures pass through the port he is docked in, and he sets sail. Shortly into his voyage, a storm waylays his ship. He docks in an unknown country, where the only inhabitant appears to be an old hermit. Walter and his companions begin a hunt for food, but Walter strays northward up a steep path. After several days of travel, he rests in a wood, and is woken by the Dwarf from his vision. The Dwarf reveals that Walter has strayed into the land of the Lady, who keeps a grand house at the heart of the wood. Shortly after, Walter comes across the Maid, who begs for Walter's aid in escaping the clutches of her mistress. Walter agrees and seeks the house of the Lady and swears fealty to her, citing his vision as his reason for entering her lands. The Lady introduces Walter to her lover, the King's Son, who disregards Walter for his low rank. Soon after, the King's Son falls out of the Lady's favour when she discovers that he has attempted to seduce the Maid, who refused him. Walter overhears the Lady conspiring with the Dwarf, who she tasks with killing the King's Son. After Walter defends the Lady from a wild lion, she seduces him. Walter acquiesces, fearful that the Lady will order his death should she learn of his plan to help the Maid escape. One night, the Maid begs Walter to meet her in the wood. When he does, they make their escape. They are pursued by the Dwarf, who declares that the Maid has murdered the Lady before Walter kills him. The Maid is distraught, but confirms the Dwarf's account. She reveals that she invited the King's Son to her bed, and cast a
glamour Glamour may refer to: Arts Film * ''Glamour'' (1931 film), a British film * ''Glamour'' (1934 film), an American film * ''Glamour'' (2000 film), a Hungarian film Writing * ''Glamour'' (magazine), a magazine for women * ''The Glamour ...
over him such that he looked like Walter. When the Lady entered the room, she thought him to be an unfaithful Walter and killed him in his sleep; the Maid then killed the Lady with a dagger. Walter is shocked to hear the events, but after the Maid tells him that the Lady had imprisoned her for countless years, he accepts that her freedom could only be won by the death of the Lady or the Maid. They declare their love for one another, and Walter breaks the Maid's iron ring. The pair travel into a region inhabited by Bear-People who are known to sacrifice most foreigners to their female God. The Maid proclaims herself as an incarnation of the God, thus saving herself and Walter from sacrifice. They depart, but on their travels meet a troupe of knights, who lead Walter to a great city. Stripped naked, his body is inspected and he is invited to don either beautiful robes or the armour of battle. He chooses the armour, and is thus proclaimed as the new King. An elder reveals to Walter that the city, Stark-Wall, has the custom of filling the vacant throne by sending knights to the valley south of the city, who take the first foreigner to arrive to the city. Should their body be fit, and their choice be to wear the garb of battle and not of peace, they are declared as the new King. Walter and the Maid are wed, whereupon the Maid loses her magic powers. She regrets deceiving the Bear-People, and teaches them agriculture to avail the effects of longstanding drought in their land. Walter abolishes Stark-Wall's prisons, establishes support for the hungry and poor, defeats foes in battle, and leaves a long line of heirs. When his bloodline is ended, the people of Stark-Wall abolish the monarchy.


Reception

Morris considered his fantasies a revival of the medieval tradition of chivalrous romances. In consequence, they tend to have sprawling plots comprising strung-together adventures. His use of archaic language is a challenge to some readers. When the novel was reissued in the
Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of American publisher Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 (presumably in response to the growing popularity of Tolkien's works), the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature which ...
,
James Blish James Benjamin Blish () was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is best known for his ''Cities in Flight'' novels and his series of ''Star Trek'' novelizations written with his wife, J. A. Lawrence. His novel ''A Case of Conscienc ...
noted that Morris's style was a successful recapturing of the style of
Sir Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author of ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', the classic English-language chronicle of the Arthurian legend, compiled and in most cases translated from French sources. The most popular version of ''Le Morte d'Ar ...
, "all the way down to the marginal glosses and the nonstop compound sentences hitched together with scores of semicolons. He also recaptured much of the poetry; and if the reader will make the small effort necessary to accommodate himself to the rhythm of the style, he will find both it and the story rewarding.""Books",
F&SF ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy fiction magazine, fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence E. Spivak, Lawrence Spiva ...
, February 1970, p.45


References


Further reading

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External links

* * * 1894 British novels Novels by William Morris British fantasy novels 1894 fantasy novels Dwarves in popular culture {{1890s-fantasy-novel-stub