The Wood Beyond the World

By: William Morris

Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell

"The Wood Beyond the World" is perhaps the first modern fantasy novel to unite an imaginary world with the element of the supernatural and is thus the precursor of much of present-day fantasy literature. The protagonist, (Golden Walter), gets married when he is a young man. His wife betrays him with another, so in his sorrow and to avoid a feud with her family, he sets off to sea. On the voyage, he has a vision of three figures passing through a port he is docked in. The first is a stately Lady. The second, her Maid (who wears an iron ring on her ankle). The third is a Dwarf in a yellow jacket and hood. When a storm drives his ship off-course they find shelter in an unknown country where the only inhabitant is an old hermit. In this country, Walter is pulled into the world of the three individuals from his vision. That world is magical, supernatural, and romantic. Throughout the plot, there are twists, turns, and adventures that call on Walter to be chivalrous, honest, brave, and loyal.

William Morris (24 March 1834-3 October 1896) was a man of many talents and excelled in all of them. A textile designer, poet, artist, fantasy writer, printer, and translator his literary contributions helped to establish the modern fantasy genre. Morris wanted this fantasy to evoke the nature of the medieval, chivalrous romance in the manner of Sir Thomas Mallory ("Le Morte d'Arthur"). His use of archaic language may seem a challenge to some but, through familiarity with the rhythms and the nuances of the writing style, the narrator and producers believe this will not be a problem for most listeners. From the producers of the best-selling "Le Morte D'Arthur" and "The Worm Ouroboros" this production mirrors those in its understandable, restrained, and contemporary style of delivery.

Public Domain (P)2023 Chris MacDonnell