Audiobook

King of Elfland's Daughter, Version 2

Lord Dunsany

The councilmen of an undistinguished hamlet entreat their ruler to find a way of ensuring that his successor will acquire some magic to add luster to their home's reputation. He yields and sends his son into Elfland, whose boundary is adjacent to his domain. Equipping himself with a magical sword fashioned by the local witch, the young man forces his way into the grounds of the elf king's palace and carries off the king's very willing daughter. In due course she bears a son, but her father spirits her magically back to him and removes Elfland itself from its proximity to the abductor's land. Her husband, assisted by a motley crew, begins a years-long quest to find the new border of Elfland while in his absence his half-magical son grows up to become a hunter. Any reader sensitive to Dunsany's tone will sense that there has to be a happy ending, but aside from that, any further summary would spoil the enjoyment of the denouement.
(Summary by Thomas A. Copeland)