The 20th Century Renaissance Man Who Pioneered Much of the Modern Fantasy Genre

[@RandalPlunkett261]

Great tribute to a man whose influence is everywhere yet completely unknown to the masses. As his closest relative, thank for such a well rounded look at his work

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you (your Lordship)! I hope I did his legacy justice and that the video encourages more people to read his works and to discover for themselves how wonderful those stories are and how much other authors were influenced by them. (And thank you for teaching me the correct way to pronounce Dunsany.)

[@thitherword]

Hi there,@@thelibraryladder. Excellent video. Great to see other people interested in the work of Lord Dunsany. I've spent more than a year researching and writing an extended MA Res thesis on Dunsany and Tolkien called '"Wonder's Native Haunt": Earth-centred Sacrality in the Fantasies of Lord Dunsany and J.R.R. Tolkien'. It concerns both authors' love of nature and the importance of wonder in their fiction. I produced a longform video on my own channel about this project. I cover Dunsany on my channel quite frequently as well. I don't have a lot of subscribers, so these productions haven't received many views at all. Would you be able to promote my thesis video in any way? We could even collaborate in some form. What do you think?

[@PAUL-ge1kl]

Hi Randal. Looking forward to visiting your pile out in Eire next year. I believe you have some Sidney Sime in situ as well

[@anuragarakala1159]

Your voice is very addictive sir. Makes audience want to keep listening for a long time...

[@jarltrippin]

You're an absolute asset to fantasy literature. Tolkien deserves all the respect he gets, but Dunsany made the first great step for the genre, and it's a damn shame that he resides in such obscurity. Great video, man.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I feel much the same way about Dunsany, so I decided to shine a little spotlight on him.

[@jarltrippin]

​@@thelibraryladderDude, congratulations on the success of this video. In just a few days it's become the most viewed one on your channel.

[@masterlee9822]

Tolkien is not that original who borrowed heavily from Germanic mythologies. Gandalf and the names of the dwarves come right from the Germanic creation of the dwarf myths. Germanic elves are creatures made from light who sometimes are compared to beams of light.

[@dalriada7554]

Is he really in such obscurity ? I've heard Dunsany as the forefather of fantasy since the mid-90's, and probably only because I was too young before that.

[@MFDOOOOM]

​@@dalriada7554 Very few of my generation who're into fantasy know who Dunsany is, hell most of the non book reading population people don't even know who Sanderson is because he doesn't have an adaptation yet.

[@thelibraryladder]

My goal with this video isn't to start a debate about the definitive, most influential fantasy author. Rather, it's to shine a spotlight on an often overlooked author who should be a part of the conversation because of his significant impact on many later fantasy authors who are now considered among the greatest. :)

[@johnsavard7583]

I would agree that a debate over whether Tolkien was more influential than Lord Dunsany would not be productive. However, I have to admit that when I clicked on the link, I was expecting a video about William Morris.

[@thelibraryladder]

​@@johnsavard7583I plan to feature Morris in a future video (along with other early pioneers such as MacDonald, Eddison and Cabell).

[@chrisamies2141]

@@johnsavard7583 Although Morris lived entirely within the 19th century, not the 20th (1834-96).

[@jatrius]

I fear that, for some , a lot of retrospective classification is underway. Tolkien's purpose, made quite explicit from the outset was to 'manufacture' a mythos for England, especially given the background of ongoing mechanisation and the horrors of industrialisation he had witnessed in WW1. He wished to create a Nibelunglied-type of paean to a retreating past which was particular to English sensibilities (note, not British but English). It was only because others picked up the ball and ran with it later that we have come to identifyhis work as part of a genre which we now term fantasy. Dunsany was enormously popular but also must be seen within the greater context of the Celtic Twilight movement(s). There was an extant canon of works from which he could draw inspiration and mould to his own desires. This is the key difference between them as writers.

[@thelibraryladder]

@marshalmarrs3269 Thanks for the suggestion! Stapledon's on my list of authors I plan to discuss here on my channel, although it might be a little while before I get to him (it's a long list). :)

[@jeroenadmiraal8714]

Dunsany's writing still has the power to totally impress and overwhelm a reader with its beauty and melancholy.

[@SolarLabyrinth]

I had no idea he was so prolific. Given how little his work is discussed these days, I really just thought he had written King of Elfland's Daughter and a few short stories. A very enlightening video.

[@KaiHenningsen]

In that way, he seems comparable to Asimov, who also couldn't stop writing and produced hundreds of works.

[@Yatukih_001]

I wrongly assumed that it was because the media did not want people to know about him but that is not the case. The point is most people spend time working and so on so they usually do not research writers like him.

[@tamerofhorses2200]

You can litearally find all of his works compiled into a huge anthology book online in an EPUB format. Look it up. It's amazing.

[@quixotiq]

Yes! Although The King of Elfland's Daughter is amazing!

[@marcbasil]

🤨🤦🏻🥱 congrats: CRINGEST comment of the week, bud. Great job 👏🏽 imagine being this gigantic of a freaking shut-in pleb 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻🤣🤣🤣🤤🤤🤤🥴

[@twilightguardian]

Gotta be honest, I stopped this video a month ago at the 8 minute mark and went to find a PDF of The King of Elfland's Daughter and read it. It's great! Now I guess to finish the video lol

[@thelibraryladder]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back. You should give some of his short fiction a try now. I think his collection The Book of Wonder is great starting point.

[@space_romancer]

Thank you for this great video. Lord Dunsany deserves to be more widely rediscovered among readers.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I completely agree.

[@thoughtfuldevil6069]

"When Mana-Yood-Sushai wakes, there shall be dreams and gods no more." I will never, ever forget that quote. I don't Lovecraft ever forgot it, either.

[@thelibraryladder]

Let us all hope that Skarl the Drummer maintains a steady beat. :D

[@harbl99]

Excuse me, your spelling is correct but it's pronounced -- * ahem * -- MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI! (the allcaps are required)

[@Kathy-ub8ur]

I am so glad that when I worked at MIT's college bookstore, I came across THE KING OF ELFLAND'S DAUGHTER. It was (and remains) the most beautiful prose I have ever read.

[@andreasboe4509]

"His use of language is precise and poetic. His choice of words conveys specific tones and emotions, and he imbues them with a poetic rhytm." Very well put. I can't think of a better description of Mr Library Ladder.

[@thelibraryladder]

That's very kind of you to say so. :)

[@kathleengarvey4634]

I am utterly stunned to see your wonderful doc. I didn't think anyone knew of Lord Dunsany and his influence. Granted it was 1968 or'69 when I was searching. I and the local librarian were only able to access "The King of Elfland's Daughter " through inter library loans. I remember being floored that a 14 year old was able to access a college library around 60 miles distant. That's when I became a life long fan of public libraries and "fairytales for adults".

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I'm a fervent cheerleader for overlooked authors and public libraries. :)

[@CyrusB1]

This was fascinating. I've heard "Lord Dunsany" as an author kicked around for years, but never considered him as the inspiration behind Robert E. Howard & Tolkien (which, of course, they must have had their loves as well) I learned a lot from your videos. Thank you

[@comradestannis]

Oh yeah, I read Lord Dunsany's stories, at least half of his repertoire, and they're *great*.

[@Akril]

I was hoping this video would be about Dunsany. I first discovered his work on the Internet Archive, and I was amazed at how *pure* his work felt, and how beautifully elements of classical mythology, traditional fairy tales and the (then) modern world are all woven together in his stories. Very nice video!

[@billbadson7598]

I can’t recommend Dunsany enough. Every single thing he’s written. If you go through all his stories, you can see his influence on so many modern genres. I’m confident he was also a direct influence on HP Lovecraft, as some of his stories (especially in Gods of Pegana, and Time and the Gods) involve similar themes of vastly powerful, inscrutable, terrifying beings who aren’t aware enough of your existence to even consider you. His writing is fun to read, too. Every sentence is like poetry. It’s hard to describe without experiencing it, but there are no plain descriptive lines. Every sentence is art.

[@yegenek]

Particularly "Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath" where the influence of Dunsany is very apparent.

[@kgoblin5084]

It's not even really a debate, Lovecraft pretty much cited that he was influenced by Dunsany.

[@akv-e5t]

Lovecraft cites him as one of his influences on "The Annotated Supernatural Horror in Literature"

[@PAUL-ge1kl]

Lovecraft tried to imitate him early on. He gave in in the end. One of those: often imitated. Never equalled

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Every video you make is a cause for celebration, but this one is particularly important. Few seem to read Dunsany nowadays and he is so worth reading.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you so much, Michael! I first encountered Dunsany's works when I was in about ten years old. Some of his Jorkens tales were included in three Alfred Hitchcock anthologies from the 1960s I found in my elementary school library and that were published for kids: Ghostly Gallery, Sinister Spies, and Davy Jones' Haunted Locker. Those anthologies (and others in the series) are full of classic stories originally written for adults by some of the all-time great authors.

[@quixotiq]

Lyrical beyond the texts we know :)

[@patrickmarshall4142]

I can attest to Dunsany's influence on Fritz Leiber. I heard Leiber read "The Fortress Unvanqiishable Save for Sacnoth" as well as his own "Lean Times in Lanhkmar" in Berkeley in the late seventies. Leiber had the most amazing Shakespearean delivery which suited Dunsany's fantastic prose.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks for sharing that story! As a trained thespian (and son of a thespian), Leiber's performance must have been tremendous. I've only heard him speak in old interviews that are available here on KZbin, and I agree that he had a marvelous way of speaking.

[@qwqwqwqw99]

I normally have trouble picturing scenes in my head but when I read Dunsany it's like that part of my brain finally works. Like the words are doing all the work.

[@thelibraryladder]

That's a great way of describing it. Thanks for sharing!

[@elijahtrevino5347]

A KZbin channel that looks at the historical development of the fantasy genre! Never thought I needed one so badly! Thank you for the amazing content.

[@comradestannis]

I love it!

[@anthonybird546]

Dunsany's fantasies feel to me like the literary equivalent of art nouveau. Just gorgeous. Also I hit the Subscribe button so fast

[@wxwaxone]

That’s the best capsule description of Dunsany’s style I e ever heard. Brilliant comment.

[@PAUL-ge1kl]

Well said. Tales like beautiful ornate miniatures

[@leoden49]

That blew me away. A wonderful presentation of an extraordinary writer. I can't wait for your audible edition of The Book Of Wonder. Bravo! Bravo!

[@pjurchen]

This whole channel is a revelation. I stumbled across it a few months back and have been using your recommendations in my own exploration of and reading on the roots of modern fantasy. This video is quite helpful. Thank you!

[@groofay]

Dunsany is one of those I've heard of by name, but haven't looked into. So thanks for introducing me to him! I'm looking forward to reading his work, and hearing your audiobook when you release it.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! You (and others like you) are my target audience for this video. Most fantasy readers today haven't ever read Dunsany (and many probably haven't even heard of him), and I want to encourage people to give him a try. Some of his short stories have a definite Twilight Zone feel to them (despite being written many decades before the TV show, which shows the influence he had on the show's writers).

[@juricadogan3870]

Lord Dunsany is the most underrated writer who ever walked this planet. Enjoyed him more than Poe or Lovecraft...

[@comradestannis]

@@juricadogan3870 Poe and Dunsany are great!

[@gingerannamae6308]

Fabulous. Dunsany was an absolute master. I'm so glad someone finally recognizes his genius.

[@DawnDavidson]

Wow, I am glad to hear you’ll be recording these. I was struck by you wonderful voice as you narrated this episode. As a fan of Tolkien, the Inklings, and their mentors and inspirations, I had read a bit of MacDonald and Dunsany many years back, when I was a teen in the 1970’s. Thanks for this reminder to explore Dunsany’s works again.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! In a future video, I plan to feature MacDonald, William Morris, E.R. Eddison, James Branch Cabell and several other early pioneers of the fantasy genre.

[@DawnDavidson]

@@thelibraryladder Wonderful! All worth some time for sure. :) I look forward to it! :D

[@brownjason3068]

Thank you for the piece on Dunsany. I was very lucky to discover Dunsany, William Morris, Poe, Lovecraft, ERR Eddison (I hope to find a video on him in due course) and those who followed in the latter part of the 1960's well before I found Tolkien. I also loved the illustrations by Sime for the original books and was thrilled to get a first edition of the deluxe "Time and the Gods" signed by Dunsany and each plate hand signed by Sime. A gem in my library.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I imagine you were a prime market for Ballantine Books and its adult fantasy series in the 1960s and 70s (I discovered them in the late 70s). That signed edition of Time and the Gods sounds incredible. I'm very envious. :)

[@sirridesalot6652]

I discovered Lord Dunsany and his THE KING OF ELFLAND'S DAUGHTER when I was searching KZbin for songs sung by Mary Hopkins. She sings LIRAZEL which is an absolute delight. From that song I discovered the full musical work THE KING OF ELFLAND'S DAUGHTER which I enjoyed so much that I purchased the book in bother softcover and hardcover. I enjoyed the book immensely. Mary Hopkins singing LIRAZEL is a fantastic song that children as well as adults could enjoy a lot. Its an exceptionally descriptive song that invokes many images some of them quite humourous.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks for sharing that! I wasn't aware of that album's existence. I just listened to Mary Hopkin's recording of Lirazel here on KZbin, and you're right, it's lovely. My only previous familiarity with her was the 1968 song Those Were the Days, which I loved as a kid.

[@GypsyRoSesx]

It is so uncanny that you should release this video today when I have been researching pre-1940 Fantasy all morning. (note: For genre-fiction I'm an SF reader and have barely read any fantasy--but my approach when I read anything is to try to start at the beginning--for example: I haven't read any contemporary fantasy but I have read George MacDonald.) This is a fantastic video by the way. Your content is excellent and it’s astounding that you have the actual old edition books to match! An incredibly fine library!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! For more pre-1940 fantasy reading suggestions, you might check out my video about the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series that features a lot of early fantasy works (and for many of the titles, those Ballantine editions are the easiest to obtain). I also have several more videos planned that will focus more in depth on early (pre-Tolkien) fantasy authors who are often overlooked these days and deserve to be read, including MacDonald, Morris, Eddison, and Cabell, among others. I've been a book collector for more than 40 years, and it's been a labor of love for me.

[@rickkearn7100]

Superb overview of Dunsany, TLL. Riveting. The density of information regarding his works, and your descriptions of his style are almost overwhelming. Drinking from the firehose, as they say. Well done! Cheers.

[@PaisleySundance]

I love when fantasy authors utilize soft worldbuilding. It reminds me of having vivid childhood memories of a specific place, like a store or a playground, where not knowing the context of the wider world beyond that area made everything seem so much more vast. For me, the more I learned about the physical boundaries of Tolkien's Arda or the points on his timeline, the less vast and magical his world seemed than when it was just hobbits and dwarves journeying over mountaintops.

[@jarltrippin]

Yeah, as I get older I realise that the overwhelming majority of fantasy does _not_ play to the genre's strengths. Imo fantasy should be a playground for prose and atmosphere (things most authors and readers do not care for), something of an ethereal quality to it, like something just beyond your grasp. It's why Malazan, The Children of Húrin, Earthsea, Prince of Nothing and, my favourite, Book of the New Sun work so well for me. Creating a unique, epic world is all well and good but it means nothing to me if characters think and talk the same way we do.

[@thelibraryladder]

That's a great point about stories potentially losing some of their magic when the worldbuilding becomes too extensive.

[@coffemuse]

I'm excited for the upcoming audiobook! And thank you for bringing Lord Dunsany to the forefront of my mind - he has until now been only at the back of it and I've never tried his work.

[@AisleofMisfitBooks]

Great video! Glad you mentioned/highlighted Sidney Sime's illustrations, and showed so many of them throughout--they're so vivid, and so important to helping convey Dunsany's atmospherics.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I agree with you about Sime's artwork.

[@oxhine]

Hey, Bridger! Fantastic video. Please continue the Moorcock Eternal Champion series. You left off with Hawkmoon eight months ago!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! The Eternal Champion, Part 4, is my next video. :)

[@eleintblood]

I had seen his name floating around the Dungeon Crawl Classics' Adventures in Fantasy blog, but I decided to read his works after your brief but potent mention of his influence in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series video. I read King of Elfland's Daughter, the Charwoman's Shadow and The Book of Wonder in one week. I felt like a child again. It shook me and now I can't get enough. Thanks for another amazing video.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! That's exactly what I want my videos to do -- generate interest in reading somewhat overlooked but still rewarding authors and books. I'm so glad you enjoyed the reading experience.

[@calliope9th217]

Get your hands on Curse of the Wise Woman and The Blessing off Pan. Thank me later ;)

[@eleintblood]

@@calliope9th217 added to the list. Thank you!

[@Diana-ch8cv]

Thank you for putting a spotlight on Dunsany! This is a wonderful tribute that I hope leads more people to experience his work

[@myowngenesis]

Dude, even the most effective ASMR vids dont even come close to how soothing your voice is. Subbed gladly

[@LindaDanvers]

This remains one of my favourite vids of yours. I started reading Dunsany because of you. I was amazed that I had never heard of him.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! It's always nice to hear that my videos have had a positive impact.

[@Joshmosis2.0]

I could listen to you describe things all day, in your ultra pleasant cadence. I can't wait to hear your audio narrations of these stories! I already wanted to read Dunsany after Bookpilled's review of Elfland's Daughter, but I had no idea who the man was. Thank you for your in-depth videos!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you!

[@buddhabillybob]

Fantastic video! Can't wait for the audio version.

[@micheleshave323]

This video is so wonderful and I am enjoying it immensely. Thank you!!

[@hombremythos]

It's always Tolkien everywhere, no one denies his merit, but I am immensely happy that true recognition is finally being given to the authentic pioneers of the fantasy genre, those who knew how to create a unique literature that mixed the sublimity of the highest poetry with the mystery of fantasy worlds. Thank you for this wonderful video

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! Through my channel, I'm trying to bring more attention to overlooked pioneers and innovators in a variety of genres.

[@dires]

A truly delightful channel.

[@BooksForever]

I appreciated the pronunciation guidance; going this extra mile makes you my hero for the day!

[@DafyddBrooks]

This is why we need you doing these videos. Not just inspire us to read new books we may have not known,, but also present the idea that just because something is really REALLY popular, it doesn't mean its totally original and its OK to know where the influences came from for the writers to create their adventure for readers to enjoy for the next generation. What I get from this video even more is that the 'Romantic era' certanly explored a curiosity in old fantastic tales, dangerous adventures and exploring what else exists in this world (or what once existed) , the 20th centaury writers certanly explored a human character going on a 'heroes' adventure more and having to confront danger with using a sword as opposed to a gun. Something at this point in history, no solder or police man was using such a weapon to either attack or defuse a situation anymore and it was seen as something very much associated with the past when it was the norm for anyone to use to attack or protect back in more barbaric, or feudal periods. Hope all that makes sense by the way. All the best :) Thought youd like to know about another youtuber called 'Writing with Andrew' who you may like to have a look at if your interested. An no, I definitely did not discover him because of his video on 'Zelda: breath of the wild' , ABSOLUTLEY not, I love books ;)

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! My primary goals for my channel are exactly what you described -- to get people interested in lesser-known books and authors by placing them in a larger context that shows their connections to more recent or popular works. I don't like to see books go out of print, particularly ones that played important roles in the development of a genre, so my hope is to generate enough interest in them to keep them in print or to bring them back into print, even if it's only in ebook format. On your observation about the history of the fantasy genre, I tend to think of the genre's evolution as a series of reactions to changing circumstances in which authors often used their fantasy stories to express and challenge their own anxieties about the world as they knew it. For example, some authors lament the loss of a simpler era; others write in reaction to a sense of rising oppression; and still others might feel frustration and loneliness at the fragmentation, distancing and weakening of social bonds of friendship, family and community that have occurred. Over the past 250 years, the ebb and flow of violence and darker elements in fantasy has tended to parallel periods of unrest, upheaval and significant social and political change. I think a similar pattern can be seen in the evolution of crime fiction, which makes me wonder if crime writers and fantasy writers are really all that different. Vigilantism, political conspiracies, and naive protagonists forced to fend for themselves are common tropes in both genres. Also, thanks for the tip about Writing with Andrew! I'm not familiar with his channel, and it looks like a great resource.

[@keithdonohue4631]

Dunsany's writing is such a treasure. Thanks for this video!

[@conorquinn607]

Another great video, and spot on in every detail!

[@WishPaintStudios]

I love watching your videos, I learn something new in all of them. I also have so many new books to check out! I’m currently writing fantasy novel. I hope it’s at least a little good. Wish me luck.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks, and I wish you the best of luck!

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

Good luck, stick with it to the end!

[@croydthoth]

Good luck and remember the first draft doesn't have to be any good, it just has to BE.

[@PulpHerb]

In her collection of essays on literary analysis of speculative fiction, Ursula LeGuin contends that every fantasy writer goes through a period of writing Dunsany pastiche. When she wrote in the 70s I have not doubt that was true. I do not think it is today and that is a great loss. Even though we cannot duplicate him even trying to imitate the language and style will show up later as better writing in general. Thank you for making this video. Too often on YT, discussion of the history of fantasy start at either Tolkien or Howard without looking at Dunsany, much less Morrison and others.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment! I was tempted to use that quote from Le Guin in this video, but I worried that it might deter viewers from reading Dunsany. My hope is that this video will encourage more people (including aspiring writers) to read his works. More broadly, I'm also trying to shine a spotlight into the often overlooked corners of genre histories. I plan to feature MacDonald, Morris, Eddison and Cabell, among other early fantasy writers, in future videos.

[@simonfloden1221]

Thank you for teaching me how to pronounce the name of one of my favourite writers. I never knew. I still remember reading him for the first time. I had picked up a copy of The King of Elfland's Daughter on a whim, having heard about his influence on Lovecraft and Tolkien, to read on a flight. I almost missed my connection in Amsterdam because I got too engrossed reading it.

[@josephd5879]

Another great video about fantasy and with very well researched content. Watching this video brought back memories of reading Lord Dunsany starting with The Gods of Pegana and also thinking of Tolkien's The Silmarillian. I was hoked and read other Lord Dunsany books from the Ballentine fantasy collection.

[@MementoMorituri]

Mind blown🤯. I'd heard of Lord Dunsany, but didn't know he was such a badass. Awesome.

[@ryanbartlett672]

Read my first book of his, "Elf Land's Daughter", and loved it! Sentences oozed honey!

[@katlafae9487]

Oddly i needed to hear this to embrace my creativity thank you for awakening my knowledge of dunsany. There some unique beauty and mystery to Ireland which fascinated me ever since I was a little girl.

[@thelibraryladder]

Wonderful! I'm glad I could be of service to you. I hope you enjoy exploring his works. :)

[@LiamsLyceum]

For my last semester of my undergraduate degree I did a presentation on Dunsany, largely on The King of Elfland’s Daughter. Good stuff!

[@thelibraryladder]

Have you read much of his short fiction? His short stories are where he really shines the brightest, in my opinion.

[@LiamsLyceum]

@@thelibraryladderI haven’t read much but I have read some and definitely plan on reading more

[@comradestannis]

@@thelibraryladder His short stories are by far the best I've ever read of English or Irish literature.

[@josephteller9715]

I've only read a few of his works, so I look forward to the audio recordings you are planning.

[@chinocracy]

This is essential stuff to know, I hadn't known about him before. Being a Michael Moorcock and Robert E. Howard fan, I feel that I had unfairly missed him. Thanks for this.

[@thelibraryladder]

It's amazing to me how many authors from different corners of the fantasy genre were directly influenced by Dunsany, particularly when his works weren't widely reprinted after their initial publication.

[@wileyschmitt]

Amazing video Bridger! Thank you! Looks like it's been very well received as well :)

[@swarsi12]

When i was young i read fantasy voraciously as my imagination would take over and it provided so much pleasure. Unfortunately the latest technological advancements in CGI use in movies has completely robbed me of imagination and when i go back and read the earlier stories the old pleasure is gone. Perhaps it is just age i wish the old pleasure would return.

[@thelibraryladder]

I share your frustration with the overuse of CGI in film and television these days. I've seen very few filmed adaptations of fantasy books that have lived up to the expectations my imagination created.

[@alexiskiri9693]

Thank you for bringing this unsung hero into the open. He needs to be discussed and named more often as a major and important writer.

[@blakemiller4501]

Awesome video. I'm rarely in such agreement on an authors work especially one as hard to even describe as he is. I'm excited you're working on an audio book.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I had fun recording Dunsany's The Book of Wonder. Two of the stories are uploaded to the Audiobooks playlist on my channel. I might record more in the future if I can find the time.

[@TemperedReverence]

I saw this video's thumbnail and thought to myself ..Lord Dunsany.. and lo and behold! Fantastic video on a sadly very esoteric figure in the popular history of fantasy literature

[@caddelworth]

The title "Lord Dunsany" is named after a place in County Meath, Ireland. There are several YT videos about the rewilding of that area where you can hear it pronounced correctly - as you have done here. BTW searching online for "how to pronounce dunsany" also reveals the correct pronunciation.

[@aaronmackenzie1907]

Thank you so much for doing a video about Dunsany! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it! I’m a Canadian currently living in London, and I spend a lot of time trying and failing to find Dunsany books in all of London’s wonderful bookstores. I wish more people knew about him and championed his work!

[@thelibraryladder]

You are so welcome! I want more people to know about and read Dunsany too.

[@carlosbranca8080]

I only have from Dunsany the collection by Lin Carter Over the Hills and Far Away but i have read online a few more of his more famous stories not included there. Many of his tales have this oniric quality, I don't remember much details but just the feeling of dreamlike wonder. Excellent video as always! Take care.

[@comradestannis]

Yeah, the "irony" seems to be very "fabulistic," like something from Aesop's Fables.

[@williamkline7922]

Omg this dude’s voice. I just clicked on this video from my feed. The last thing I was expecting a natural geographic documentary narrating voice when I saw a dude on a desk chatting about books. The audio set up and voice work for this video is insane.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@jamesaron1967]

Thank you for bring this author and his works to our attention.

[@marshalsea000]

Another great video, on another largely forgotten figure post Gen-X. Hooray for news on the audiobooks! I look forward to them doing good to my inner being.

[@comradestannis]

More fantasy pre-Tolkien authors deserve their due.

[@kjmav10135]

I just stumbled on this video. Oh my goodness, I could listen to your voice forever. So glad you’re recording novels.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I'm going to start small by narrating short stories before graduating to novel-length works. :)

[@briandhackney]

Dare I say, best voice in all of booktube?

[@blakearius]

Dear god. This guy invented the anime Isekai genre.

[@franciscampagna2711]

Thank you. Been so long since I read his works. I must return to him.

[@hardstylelife5749]

Very interesting video, I didn’t even know the guy, thank you! Btw you’ve the most relaxing sounding voice I’ve ever heard.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@karventis]

yes, a video on Dunsany! discovering the King of Elfland's Daughter was a revelation. his go-to illustrator Sidney Sime is an equally interesting figure, glad you mentioned him!! can we expect a video on Mervyn Peake? p.s. loving the production value to these videos!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! Peake's on my list of planned videos. It might be a little while before I get to him, though, because my list is long and my production pace isn't exactly what one would call fast. I hope to feature him sometime next year. :D

[@nathanscarlett4772]

Thank you for this video. It was amazing!

[@MarcelaBellyDance]

All of your videos are a gem! Thank you 🙏

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I'm very glad you enjoy them.

[@gleeeshee]

Fascinating - i love your videos keep them coming i look forward to them 😉

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I'm glad you like them.

[@ericadler9680]

Great overview and analysis, thank you. And you've got a great voice too, I wish you much success with your audio recordings.

[@thelibraryladder]

Much appreciated!

[@pthats]

I'm so happy that Dunsany is getting love. I remember not too long ago reading his stories and being absolutely desperate to discuss it with someone. He expresses his ideas of fate, chance, regret, life, death, etc. so eloquently, in the way that only mythology can, and in a way that I really would love to read more serious scholarship of. Even within his work, for example, seeing his conception of Time change, becoming more anthropomorphized and adversarial, there's so much richness in philosophy and psychology to sink your teeth into.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful comment! I share your appreciation for Dunsany's artistry. The battles with Time in his collection Time and the Gods are very memorable.

[@anastasiamorozova7733]

Dear me, I can’t believe I’ve never even heard the man’s name before this! Thank you for this video!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! You aren't alone in your unfamiliarity with Dunsany. He's mostly forgotten today (but shouldn't be), which is why I decided to make this video. I hope you give him a try. Many of his most famous and influential works are in the public domain and can be found at Project Gutenberg and Librivox if you're interested.

[@Videosyncrasy]

Had a nice little feeling of satisfaction when I guessed who it was before clicking on the video. Really nice summary of his work.

[@JohnHoranzy]

Thanks for posting this. Just ordered a few of his books from eBay.

[@thelibraryladder]

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

[@juniorjames7076]

Suscribed!!! A channel after my own heart!!

[@alexkalish8288]

You nailed this one - one of my favorite writers when I was in college.

[@Strideo1]

I've actually read The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany and I was impressed by how beautifully written it was and I liked the dream-like atmosphere.

[@FP-in1kq]

What a summary! thank you :)

[@bigbiggoblin2873]

I discover something new every time I watch your vids. Good stuff.

[@tigerhorse6321]

Oh thank you for the Sidney Sime shoutout. I absolutely adore his work.

[@picardkid]

When I recommend Dunsany to someone, I tell them he will put them to sleep, and I tell them that I mean that in the best way. Not out of boredom, but out of eagerness to dream.

[@thelibraryladder]

Nice description!

[@paulm5935]

Thank-you for tying everything together in the final segmet. By the time you said, I had hoped some or all of his works had reverted to the public domain. Then, I much appreciated your "starting point" recommendations. I'm looking forward go giving him a try! Paul M Atlanta, GA

[@thelibraryladder]

Great! I hope you enjoy his works as much as I do.

[@wanderingpoet9999]

Absolutely fascinating thank you for sharing this

[@emmaphilo4049]

I always love to hear about fantasy writers, thanks for sharing!

[@elenaml2635]

I had only read some of Dunsany's stories that had been in Cthulhu Mythos collections so I had no idea that he had influenced so many more genres!! Being from Spain myself, now I am very curious to read those novels set in my country. Also, I have to say that I am so happy that the youtube algorithm recommended this video. The video itself is fantastic and your voice is so calm and soothing! Immediately, I thought: "wow, this man needs to do auidobooks." Surprise, surprise, you do! I can't wait for your audiobook version of the Book of Wonder. Off to watch some more of your videos! Keep up the amazing work!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy Don Rodriguez and The Charwoman's Shadow as much as I do (if not more). :)

[@norbertjendruschj9121]

You achieved the best a critic can hope for: I just started to read "The Lord Dunsany Collection". Thanks for the recommendation!

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was trying to accomplish. I hope you enjoy his stories as much as I do. One caution, though. The collection you're reading likely was compiled from the public domain text files curated at Project Gutenberg. I'm familiar with those files, and some of them suffer from a specific kind of text error. When the files were scanned from the original hardcopy pages, the scanning software didn't detect all the commas. As a result, Dunsany's idiosyncratic sentence structures and phrasing can be a little confusing without some of the punctuation to signal pauses or pivots in focus. As you get used to his writing style, it becomes easier to navigate, but it might be a little frustrating at first. Or it might not be an issue at all if the publisher was thorough in its editing and corrected the missing commas before publication.

[@norbertjendruschj9121]

@@thelibraryladder As a native German speaker, the use of the comma in English texts of any kind is a miracle for me.

[@macklinfanning4318]

Thanks for your work on this!

[@arcanemuses]

Thank you for this wonderfully informative video.

[@drawingsimpleton4827]

i just discovered your channel and I am instantly hypnotized by your voice.

[@darillus1]

he's criminally unknown, hopefully videos like this will shine a bit more light on the Dunsany's vast canon of magical short stories

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

When I think of Dunsany , what comes to mind are stories that use so many fantastic names in one sentence it makes my head spin. Something like : : ' Prince 'kalum took the yiago and went to the Lysio to do the ritual of hailo ' 🤔

[@thelibraryladder]

Sometimes his invented names go a little overboard IMO. It's clear where Lovecraft and Vance drew inspiration from on that front. :D

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

@@thelibraryladderhaha. Yes I can see the Vance comparison. Vance has the conversations from the novels of The wallet of Kai - lung, (those overly polite conversations, hustling etc ) with the same type of fantasy names & cynical outlook Dunsany has.

[@EndingSimple]

That wonderful , soothing voice! You could have a side line in ASMR videos without breaking a sweat. Not that you make me sleepy, but I just feel the tension roll off me when I listen to you. I feel like I'm transported to a kinder, gentler world. Also, thanks for telling me about the man who inspired H.P. Lovecraft to write The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath. You've just told more than I ever knew about Dunsany.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thanks! I believe BookTube shouldn't be stressful. :)

[@Midnightnoise347]

So, I have only just found your channel and have to say your content and the delivery have gained you a new subscriber. I have watched 5 so far it’s a shame it’s the day time here you’ve such soothing voice is going it has relaxed me too well and I’ve cooking to do. Thank you for being so passionate about books.

[@thelibraryladder]

Thank you! Please don't burn or cut yourself! Should I put a warning banner at the start of my videos? :D