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The Wood Beyond the World
The name Kelmscott bears a legendary and magical sound among bibliophiles. When William Morris founded the Kelmscott Press in 1890, he combined his medieval craft ideals with his skills as one of Britain's most sophisticated, progressive designers. He achieved his goal — the creation of books as beautiful as those of the Middle Ages — by abandoning many of the commercial practices of his day. Morris designed types of great elegance and reintroduced color into the body of the page, adding life to the printed word.
Even if there were enough copies for everyone who wanted one, the cost of original Kelmscott books is prohibitively expensive. For this reason, Dover Publications has reissued one of Morris's most noteworthy books in a photographic facsimile that retains the enchantment of the original edition. More than an exquisitely produced book, The Wood Beyond the World ranks among the finest of Morris's prose-romances, a wonderful fantasy in a medieval setting, brimming with high adventure and flights of fancy. This superbly illustrated novel was among the first to combine reality and the supernatural, and it served as inspiration for J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and countless other fantasists.
Even if there were enough copies for everyone who wanted one, the cost of original Kelmscott books is prohibitively expensive. For this reason, Dover Publications has reissued one of Morris's most noteworthy books in a photographic facsimile that retains the enchantment of the original edition. More than an exquisitely produced book, The Wood Beyond the World ranks among the finest of Morris's prose-romances, a wonderful fantasy in a medieval setting, brimming with high adventure and flights of fancy. This superbly illustrated novel was among the first to combine reality and the supernatural, and it served as inspiration for J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and countless other fantasists.
261 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1894
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About the author
William Morris
1,654 books494 followersWilliam Morris was an English architect, furniture and textile designer, artist, writer, socialist and Marxist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris wrote and published poetry, fiction, and translations of ancient and medieval texts throughout his life. His best-known works include The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems (1858), The Earthly Paradise (1868–1870), A Dream of John Ball and the utopian News from Nowhere. He was an important figure in the emergence of socialism in Britain, founding the Socialist League in 1884, but breaking with the movement over goals and methods by the end of that decade. He devoted much of the rest of his life to the Kelmscott Press, which he founded in 1891. The 1896 Kelmscott edition of the Works of Geoffrey Chaucer is considered a masterpiece of book design.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
September 17, 2025
A novel from the inventor of the modern fantasy genre
In a foreword to the edition in my library, Lin Carter, a fantasy author of no small skill and acclaim himself, wrote:
THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD is “the first great fantasy novel ever written: the first of them all; all the others, Dunsany, Eddison, Pratt, Tolkien, Peake, Howard, et al, are successors to this great original … [a] tale of quest, adventure or war set in an invented age and worldscape of the author’s own imagination.”
It’s all there – heroism and bravery, magic and wizardry, love and lust, good and evil, monsters, swordplay and more. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine one of Morris’ characters planting the seed in Tolkien’s brain that sprouted ultimately into a venal, craven Gollum in LORD OF THE RINGS.
But, forsooth, it is beyond doubt that the parlance of this tale and the words which fall from the fair mouths of the Man, the Maid and the Lady, will seem passing strange in your ears. Nor willst thou wot their meaning withal. But if a reader bide himself in repose, tender patience and calm wisdom, willt thou soon see that meaning, narrative and beauty, hitherto hidden and not forthcoming, will reveal themselves in the fullness of time with all charm and warmth. Then, in that fullness, friends of the Man and the Maid such as thyself will bear pleased witness to the story’s complete discarding of the unseemly raiment of linguistic disguise. Belike the will to seek rest will abandon thee and thou wouldst fain continue to read with complete understanding and joy until the hours are small and the night is past its midmost.
Highly recommended for readers and self-described students of the fantasy genre.
Paul Weiss
In a foreword to the edition in my library, Lin Carter, a fantasy author of no small skill and acclaim himself, wrote:
THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD is “the first great fantasy novel ever written: the first of them all; all the others, Dunsany, Eddison, Pratt, Tolkien, Peake, Howard, et al, are successors to this great original … [a] tale of quest, adventure or war set in an invented age and worldscape of the author’s own imagination.”
It’s all there – heroism and bravery, magic and wizardry, love and lust, good and evil, monsters, swordplay and more. Indeed, it’s easy to imagine one of Morris’ characters planting the seed in Tolkien’s brain that sprouted ultimately into a venal, craven Gollum in LORD OF THE RINGS.
But, forsooth, it is beyond doubt that the parlance of this tale and the words which fall from the fair mouths of the Man, the Maid and the Lady, will seem passing strange in your ears. Nor willst thou wot their meaning withal. But if a reader bide himself in repose, tender patience and calm wisdom, willt thou soon see that meaning, narrative and beauty, hitherto hidden and not forthcoming, will reveal themselves in the fullness of time with all charm and warmth. Then, in that fullness, friends of the Man and the Maid such as thyself will bear pleased witness to the story’s complete discarding of the unseemly raiment of linguistic disguise. Belike the will to seek rest will abandon thee and thou wouldst fain continue to read with complete understanding and joy until the hours are small and the night is past its midmost.
Highly recommended for readers and self-described students of the fantasy genre.
Paul Weiss
July 22, 2019
Note, July 22, 2019: I edited this review just now, to correct a minor typo.
For Morris (who was not only a writer, but an artist, scholar, and handicraft enthusiast as well), medieval Europe was a still-relevant social and economic model for the regeneration of modern society. It also profoundly influenced his creativity. His fantasies, which are (along with those of Lord Dunsany and George MacDonald) among the most influential works in the genre before Tolkien, are set in a medieval environment that serves as an invented fantasy world. They're also written in a deliberately archaic, medieval-sounding style similar to that of his translations of the Icelandic sagas into English (which won't be to all readers' taste).
His plot here has a strong erotic undercurrent (and "erotic" is not a synonym for "dirty") and often considerable sexual tension, and it obliquely raises the issue, usually taboo in Victorian literature, of divorce and remarriage. But he treats this with 19th-century delicacy, and within the framework of an essentially chaste moral vision, so it does not come across as at all offensive. The story itself is an exciting, involving and appealing one, drawing elements from his study of medieval folklore and bringing them to life in imaginative ways. A masterful work, from a master of the genre!
For Morris (who was not only a writer, but an artist, scholar, and handicraft enthusiast as well), medieval Europe was a still-relevant social and economic model for the regeneration of modern society. It also profoundly influenced his creativity. His fantasies, which are (along with those of Lord Dunsany and George MacDonald) among the most influential works in the genre before Tolkien, are set in a medieval environment that serves as an invented fantasy world. They're also written in a deliberately archaic, medieval-sounding style similar to that of his translations of the Icelandic sagas into English (which won't be to all readers' taste).
His plot here has a strong erotic undercurrent (and "erotic" is not a synonym for "dirty") and often considerable sexual tension, and it obliquely raises the issue, usually taboo in Victorian literature, of divorce and remarriage. But he treats this with 19th-century delicacy, and within the framework of an essentially chaste moral vision, so it does not come across as at all offensive. The story itself is an exciting, involving and appealing one, drawing elements from his study of medieval folklore and bringing them to life in imaginative ways. A masterful work, from a master of the genre!
October 28, 2019
İthaki’nin Unutulmuş Fantastik Klasikler serisindeki ikinci, benimse okuduğum ilk kitabı. Açıkçası karşılaşacaklarımı tahmin ediyordum ve şaşırtmadı da.
Dönem eserleri olayları koştur koştur anlatır, her şey öyle hızlı olur ki arada kaçan, sonradan değineceğini zannettiğiniz ama unutulup giden alt olaylar yer alır. Bu kitap da tam olarak böyleydi.
İlk görüşte aşk, hop kötü kraliçe, hop kaçış vs vs. E ama başkan, bir kan davası vardı kitabın başında o ne oldu?
Kitabı orijinal kurgu görmek için değil, genel kültür için okumuştum. Konu da elbette günümüz için özgün değil ama okuru yakalayan bir iki numarası da yok değil.
Yalnız masallarda bile mutlu sonun mutlu sonunun mutlu sonunu görmemiştim. Yanlış okumadınız. Kitap 150’de falan bitebilirmiş ama mutlu sonun üzerine bana “yok artık” dedirten başka mutlu sonlar geldi.
Ilginç bir deneyimdi :) Aman aman eğlenmedim. Yine de 1 günde bitecek bir potansiyeli var.
Not: çeviri ve editörlük tertemiz, mis gibi.
Dönem eserleri olayları koştur koştur anlatır, her şey öyle hızlı olur ki arada kaçan, sonradan değineceğini zannettiğiniz ama unutulup giden alt olaylar yer alır. Bu kitap da tam olarak böyleydi.
İlk görüşte aşk, hop kötü kraliçe, hop kaçış vs vs. E ama başkan, bir kan davası vardı kitabın başında o ne oldu?
Kitabı orijinal kurgu görmek için değil, genel kültür için okumuştum. Konu da elbette günümüz için özgün değil ama okuru yakalayan bir iki numarası da yok değil.
Yalnız masallarda bile mutlu sonun mutlu sonunun mutlu sonunu görmemiştim. Yanlış okumadınız. Kitap 150’de falan bitebilirmiş ama mutlu sonun üzerine bana “yok artık” dedirten başka mutlu sonlar geldi.
Ilginç bir deneyimdi :) Aman aman eğlenmedim. Yine de 1 günde bitecek bir potansiyeli var.
Not: çeviri ve editörlük tertemiz, mis gibi.
June 19, 2016
This is around the third time I have read this book, and I still enjoyed it, but I need to remember to let more than just a few years go by before the next reading. I was fuzzy enough on details this time to not remember exactly what would happen. Until I got to various dramatic scenes, and then the consequences of them would scroll through my brain like a movie trailer. This did not exactly spoil the book for me, but it would certainly have been more fun if I had not been able to remember anything at all about the unfolding of the plot.
And I might not have noticed the unusual items that caught my attention this time around. I'll mention those as I go along, but meanwhile, this is the story of Golden Walter and his quest for love, which he began after leaving his cheating wife. William Morris wrote in a style that would verily drive some readers to the brink, but I don't mind the thees, thous, forsooths, hithers and such. This type of language can be very entertaining. I tend to imagine some poor actress trying to be in character in a dramatic moment, hoping to remember to say her lines, which would be what The Maid told our Walter when they met in The Wood Beyond The World (naturally, a lost and magical realm far out to sea). Anyway, The Maid is trying to explain what Walter will need to do to survive, and at one point she says:
". . .but next I must needs tell thee of things whereof I wot, and thou wottest not."
It took me a couple of readings to wot what was meant there. LOL
As I said, I noticed things this time that I might not have if I had been more lost in the story. For example, The Lady is described at one point as being dressed "...in nought else but what God had given her of long, crispy yellow hair." Crispy hair? This is supposed to be a woman who is more beautiful than any Golden Walter could ever imagine and she has crispy hair? I thought crispy meant brittle. The word makes me think of cookies and potato chips. So just for the sake of a clear mental picture I looked it up. Turns out crispy can also mean curly or wavy. Well, who knew?
And I got a kick out of another scene where Walter smiled and louted to The Lady. I've only ever understood lout to mean a clumsy, ill-tempered boorish kind of guy. I was imagining all kinds of odd things until I got me to the dictionary and found that when lout is a verb, it means to bend, stoop, or bow, especially in respect or courtesy. So if a lout louted would he still be considered a lout? The idea leaves me dumbfoundered (another fun real word I learned thanks to Mr. Morris.)
I am kind of making fun of the style and that is not really fair. I enjoyed the book very much, it is a classic quest with magic, castles, bear-people, and true love as the goal. Does Golden Walter succeed? Verily and forsooth, I wot but thou wottest not, and won't unless thou readest the book for thyself.
And I might not have noticed the unusual items that caught my attention this time around. I'll mention those as I go along, but meanwhile, this is the story of Golden Walter and his quest for love, which he began after leaving his cheating wife. William Morris wrote in a style that would verily drive some readers to the brink, but I don't mind the thees, thous, forsooths, hithers and such. This type of language can be very entertaining. I tend to imagine some poor actress trying to be in character in a dramatic moment, hoping to remember to say her lines, which would be what The Maid told our Walter when they met in The Wood Beyond The World (naturally, a lost and magical realm far out to sea). Anyway, The Maid is trying to explain what Walter will need to do to survive, and at one point she says:
". . .but next I must needs tell thee of things whereof I wot, and thou wottest not."
It took me a couple of readings to wot what was meant there. LOL
As I said, I noticed things this time that I might not have if I had been more lost in the story. For example, The Lady is described at one point as being dressed "...in nought else but what God had given her of long, crispy yellow hair." Crispy hair? This is supposed to be a woman who is more beautiful than any Golden Walter could ever imagine and she has crispy hair? I thought crispy meant brittle. The word makes me think of cookies and potato chips. So just for the sake of a clear mental picture I looked it up. Turns out crispy can also mean curly or wavy. Well, who knew?
And I got a kick out of another scene where Walter smiled and louted to The Lady. I've only ever understood lout to mean a clumsy, ill-tempered boorish kind of guy. I was imagining all kinds of odd things until I got me to the dictionary and found that when lout is a verb, it means to bend, stoop, or bow, especially in respect or courtesy. So if a lout louted would he still be considered a lout? The idea leaves me dumbfoundered (another fun real word I learned thanks to Mr. Morris.)
I am kind of making fun of the style and that is not really fair. I enjoyed the book very much, it is a classic quest with magic, castles, bear-people, and true love as the goal. Does Golden Walter succeed? Verily and forsooth, I wot but thou wottest not, and won't unless thou readest the book for thyself.
April 28, 2015
what the hell did i just read
February 6, 2018
Descatalogadísimo clásico de la fantasía del gran William Morris (artesano, impresor, poeta, escritor, activista político, pintor, diseñador y fundador del movimiento Arts and Crafts). La única edición en castellano es la de Miraguano y por lo que parece la traducción deja bastante que desear. Yo leí la de Urco editora (en gallego, O bosque de alén do mundo). Quien lea en inglés (aunque el autor utiliza un aquí un inglés que imita al medieval), lo mejor que puede hacer es adquirir la maravillosa edición de Kelmscott Press, hecha íntegra por el propio Morris imitando en todo a los manuscritos medievales.
El planteamiento es de cuento total, sencillo: el joven que parte en busca de una nueva vida, las tierras extrañas, el enano horripilante, la Señora bellísima y malvada, la Doncella esclava y hermosa... la trama avanza lentamente, y poco a poco van apareciendo todos los elementos, uno tras otro, de lo que es hoy en día la fantasía épica. Merece la pena por lo que tuvo de innovador en su momento.
El planteamiento es de cuento total, sencillo: el joven que parte en busca de una nueva vida, las tierras extrañas, el enano horripilante, la Señora bellísima y malvada, la Doncella esclava y hermosa... la trama avanza lentamente, y poco a poco van apareciendo todos los elementos, uno tras otro, de lo que es hoy en día la fantasía épica. Merece la pena por lo que tuvo de innovador en su momento.
February 13, 2012
Although a continuous narrative, this was a book of three distinct phases for me.
Firstly was the set up, how Walter came to be in the "Woods beyond the World". During this part I was still getting use to the antiquated prose and narrative style, finding my rhythm while not much interesting happened plot wise.
Then I got to the central part of the story, in which Walter becomes embroiled in a strange love square. While Walter sits back and passively waits for events to unfold, the others conspire and plot against each other. For me, this was the most fascinating part of the story, in which I had found my stride with the prose and was enrapt by the characters and their machinations.
And then, when Walter and the maid flee and eventually make their way back to the "normal" world, the story began to peter out and my interest waned towards the end. I guess I was expecting more of an intricate plot and a twist in the tail of the story which did not happen.
As is so often the case, it comes down to one's expectations and how far they are exceeded or fallen short of. I picked up the book without particularly high expectations as I suspected that it might be overly antiquated and quaint but these expectations were surpassed by the middle of the book. Then, finding my self really enjoying the book, I felt somewhat let down by the end as the story failed, in my opinion, to realise its full potential.
Still, an interesting and enjoyable experience of one of the key novels that helped shape modern fantasy as we know it. A must read for a anyone interested in the origins of the genre.
Firstly was the set up, how Walter came to be in the "Woods beyond the World". During this part I was still getting use to the antiquated prose and narrative style, finding my rhythm while not much interesting happened plot wise.
Then I got to the central part of the story, in which Walter becomes embroiled in a strange love square. While Walter sits back and passively waits for events to unfold, the others conspire and plot against each other. For me, this was the most fascinating part of the story, in which I had found my stride with the prose and was enrapt by the characters and their machinations.
And then, when Walter and the maid flee and eventually make their way back to the "normal" world, the story began to peter out and my interest waned towards the end. I guess I was expecting more of an intricate plot and a twist in the tail of the story which did not happen.
As is so often the case, it comes down to one's expectations and how far they are exceeded or fallen short of. I picked up the book without particularly high expectations as I suspected that it might be overly antiquated and quaint but these expectations were surpassed by the middle of the book. Then, finding my self really enjoying the book, I felt somewhat let down by the end as the story failed, in my opinion, to realise its full potential.
Still, an interesting and enjoyable experience of one of the key novels that helped shape modern fantasy as we know it. A must read for a anyone interested in the origins of the genre.
October 29, 2022
**1/2
William Morris mi è sempre risultato un autore interessante, personaggio con spiccate idee socialiste e d'avanguardia. Dedicò la vita in svariate attività ad impegno sociale, quali l'architettura, la letteratura, poesia e molto altro. Interessante perchè si scostava dall'ideologia dominante e cercava spunti creativi e d'inclusione sociale in tutto ciò che faceva, forse con troppa foga e trascinamento, ma questo denota la passione genuina in ciò che faceva?
Questo romanzo, uno degli ultimi scritti da Morris, racconta dell'avventura di Walter, che coglie al balzo l'occasione di una spedizione marinara per poter vedere il mondo aldilà del suo piccolo paese natale. Dopo svariate tappe arriverà in un luogo così onirico, etereo dove...
La narrazione, all'inizio, è stata come essere immerso in un romanzo d'avventure di mare, poi una serie di cambi di ambientazione hanno reso la lettura abbastanza coinvolgente. Però arrivato alla parte centrale il tutto ha incominciato a risultarmi noioso e prolisso, la scrittura l'ho trovata in alcune parti troppo fredda, quasi da saggio didattico ed in altre, per contro, troppo smielosa, al limite dell'artificioso. Il finale, in conclusione, è stato troppo banale e mi ha lasciato con molti, troppi interrogativi e soprattutto con l'empatia verso i personaggi e la storia pari a zero o quasi.
Non so, sicuramente mi sarei aspettato qualcosa di assolutamente diverso, viste le premesse, però alla fine non saprei come giudicare questa lettura. Di certo mi ha lasciato con l'amaro in bocca, peccato.
Comunque non demordo e proverò altro dell'autore, alla prossima Morris...
William Morris mi è sempre risultato un autore interessante, personaggio con spiccate idee socialiste e d'avanguardia. Dedicò la vita in svariate attività ad impegno sociale, quali l'architettura, la letteratura, poesia e molto altro. Interessante perchè si scostava dall'ideologia dominante e cercava spunti creativi e d'inclusione sociale in tutto ciò che faceva, forse con troppa foga e trascinamento, ma questo denota la passione genuina in ciò che faceva?
Questo romanzo, uno degli ultimi scritti da Morris, racconta dell'avventura di Walter, che coglie al balzo l'occasione di una spedizione marinara per poter vedere il mondo aldilà del suo piccolo paese natale. Dopo svariate tappe arriverà in un luogo così onirico, etereo dove...
La narrazione, all'inizio, è stata come essere immerso in un romanzo d'avventure di mare, poi una serie di cambi di ambientazione hanno reso la lettura abbastanza coinvolgente. Però arrivato alla parte centrale il tutto ha incominciato a risultarmi noioso e prolisso, la scrittura l'ho trovata in alcune parti troppo fredda, quasi da saggio didattico ed in altre, per contro, troppo smielosa, al limite dell'artificioso. Il finale, in conclusione, è stato troppo banale e mi ha lasciato con molti, troppi interrogativi e soprattutto con l'empatia verso i personaggi e la storia pari a zero o quasi.
Non so, sicuramente mi sarei aspettato qualcosa di assolutamente diverso, viste le premesse, però alla fine non saprei come giudicare questa lettura. Di certo mi ha lasciato con l'amaro in bocca, peccato.
Comunque non demordo e proverò altro dell'autore, alla prossima Morris...
April 13, 2013
William Morris's The Wood beyond the World is an excellent example of the Faerie Romance. Walter of Langton, finds himself on foreign soil and stumbles his way into what can only be called Faerie. There he falls in love with what must be an Elf-maiden and must battle a dwarf, an enchantress, and an evil man before he can escape from that Perilous Realm. Even then, the lovers' woes are not over. Uncertainty amongst the Bears and the people of Stark-Wall must be overcome before any ending, happy or ill, can be seen for the twain. Read this book by an author who had a profound impact on G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien.
January 25, 2014
I am convinced that all ratings of this book are inflated by at least one star because people know going in that Morris was a key figure in the development of modern fantasy and an important influence on Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Granted, there are several of good ideas here which are utilized much more effectively by Morris' intellectual heirs--archaism, medieval revival, appropriation of myth, etc. However, these are not deftly applied here. This book simply cannot stand on its own without the post-hoc crutch of superior derivative art. The plot is plodding and disjointed--rampant with loose ends, coincidence, and characters devoid of plausible motivation.
One redeeming feature is that my copy is a facsimile of the Kelmscott Press edition. Kelmscott Press was a Morris venture for reviving old-school bookmaking. Originals must be truly gorgeous works of art. This certainly adds to the effect Morris is going for in the narrative.
The Wood Beyond the World is only worth reading today as a scholarly exercise. If you want medieval romance, read actual medieval romances. If you want quality fantasy, read the authors he inspired.
Granted, there are several of good ideas here which are utilized much more effectively by Morris' intellectual heirs--archaism, medieval revival, appropriation of myth, etc. However, these are not deftly applied here. This book simply cannot stand on its own without the post-hoc crutch of superior derivative art. The plot is plodding and disjointed--rampant with loose ends, coincidence, and characters devoid of plausible motivation.
One redeeming feature is that my copy is a facsimile of the Kelmscott Press edition. Kelmscott Press was a Morris venture for reviving old-school bookmaking. Originals must be truly gorgeous works of art. This certainly adds to the effect Morris is going for in the narrative.
The Wood Beyond the World is only worth reading today as a scholarly exercise. If you want medieval romance, read actual medieval romances. If you want quality fantasy, read the authors he inspired.
February 3, 2024
the number of times over the course of this that I thought to myself "this is... the horniest book I have read in my entire life" and then had to stop and go "hold on a second, buddy, you've read Dracula." yet I need to say something controversial and brave. I think this might be hornier than Dracula
the main thing I noticed about it which I think is sort of inevitable given my positioning is how continuously and unashamedly C.S. Lewis borrowed from it—you will be thinking things like "magical woods? dwarfs? witches? those are just regular fantasy tropes, surely you mean that they are both borrowing from the Middle Ages" but if you read it you will see what I mean—but, I cannot emphasize this enough: instead of being for children and having a real plot, 100% of the plot of this book is our guileless hero wandering around and being urgently told by good or evil women whether or not he is supposed to have sex with them. also it's just genuinely really nice to hear this fluent register of knight-errantry English as she is spake
the main thing I noticed about it which I think is sort of inevitable given my positioning is how continuously and unashamedly C.S. Lewis borrowed from it—you will be thinking things like "magical woods? dwarfs? witches? those are just regular fantasy tropes, surely you mean that they are both borrowing from the Middle Ages" but if you read it you will see what I mean—but, I cannot emphasize this enough: instead of being for children and having a real plot, 100% of the plot of this book is our guileless hero wandering around and being urgently told by good or evil women whether or not he is supposed to have sex with them. also it's just genuinely really nice to hear this fluent register of knight-errantry English as she is spake
October 17, 2019
One star is gained just for this: "Yea, in his bed he died: but first he was somewhat sword-bitten.”
February 22, 2017
The works of William Morris were hugely influential in the development of the fantasy genre. It's necessary to note that, because some of the characteristics of this book, while groundbreaking at the time, have since passed into overuse, cliche, and scorn. Notably, it's written in faux-archaic language in mimicry of medieval romances, and the plot has more than a hint of adolescent wish-fulfillment. A book like this written today would probably be considered garbage (at least to publishers and literary critics), but at the time it was written it was really something new and special.
The biggest flaw, I found, was that the fantasy setting never quite enchanted me, never drew me in or seemed to come to life the way the worlds of Tolkien, Dunsany, and Lewis do. And the characters didn't seem fully real, either...there was perhaps too much of the archetype in them for them to seem like living, breathing individuals.
Still, I did like it. Reading it felt like uncovering something old, precious, and powerful: a relic from a bygone era. And I think that if I had read it earlier in life, I might have liked it even more.
The biggest flaw, I found, was that the fantasy setting never quite enchanted me, never drew me in or seemed to come to life the way the worlds of Tolkien, Dunsany, and Lewis do. And the characters didn't seem fully real, either...there was perhaps too much of the archetype in them for them to seem like living, breathing individuals.
Still, I did like it. Reading it felt like uncovering something old, precious, and powerful: a relic from a bygone era. And I think that if I had read it earlier in life, I might have liked it even more.
August 30, 2023
Well that wasn't great but Morris does do weird nicely, while it lasted anyway. This is often coupled with an odd Kafka-esque feeling which is present here again.
I preferred the previous book i read by him The Story of the Glittering Plain. This one was more fairytale-like than the other but his works are quite distinct.
Anyway, not the most memorable but it past the time :) .
I preferred the previous book i read by him The Story of the Glittering Plain. This one was more fairytale-like than the other but his works are quite distinct.
Anyway, not the most memorable but it past the time :) .
October 4, 2021
Uffffffff
No puedo darle ni más ni menos de 3 ⭐ a este clásico, que según se dice inspiró a Tolkien y es precursor de la fantasía que conocemos hoy en día.
Puede ser cierto porque al menos a mí leerlo ha sido como estar viendo el nacimiento de la magia, o a un diamante en bruto, aún sin pulir. Con el paso del tiempo y la maestría de grandes y diversos escritores como Tolkien, Lovecraft, etc. se han obrado grandes tesoros de la literatura, más pulidos, estudiados, trabajados, perfeccionados. Pero creo que es importante apreciar las raíces de cualquier cosa.
Yo veo magia pura, genuina en esta historia. Por eso merece la pena.
«Me regocijo por tu alegría. Sin embargo, también en aquella ciudad habrá seres malignos, aunque no se trate de hadas o diablos, de lo contrario, no se parecerá en nada a ninguna ciudad que yo conozca. En cualquier ciudad surgen enemigos sin razón aparente, al tiempo que la vida se complica.
La superioridad barre las praderas, y un hombre solo poco puede hacer ante muchos. Pero, te prometo que nunca me sorprenderán descuidado.»
Walter (El Dorado)✨
No puedo darle ni más ni menos de 3 ⭐ a este clásico, que según se dice inspiró a Tolkien y es precursor de la fantasía que conocemos hoy en día.
Puede ser cierto porque al menos a mí leerlo ha sido como estar viendo el nacimiento de la magia, o a un diamante en bruto, aún sin pulir. Con el paso del tiempo y la maestría de grandes y diversos escritores como Tolkien, Lovecraft, etc. se han obrado grandes tesoros de la literatura, más pulidos, estudiados, trabajados, perfeccionados. Pero creo que es importante apreciar las raíces de cualquier cosa.
Yo veo magia pura, genuina en esta historia. Por eso merece la pena.
«Me regocijo por tu alegría. Sin embargo, también en aquella ciudad habrá seres malignos, aunque no se trate de hadas o diablos, de lo contrario, no se parecerá en nada a ninguna ciudad que yo conozca. En cualquier ciudad surgen enemigos sin razón aparente, al tiempo que la vida se complica.
La superioridad barre las praderas, y un hombre solo poco puede hacer ante muchos. Pero, te prometo que nunca me sorprenderán descuidado.»
Walter (El Dorado)✨
November 25, 2018
I was really surprised by this story. I thought that based on how long ago it was written it was going to be more boring than exciting. I was wrong! I can see where other authors fell in love with this story and wanted to write their own.
Morris doesn't pull any punches for describing an "alien" place. The way he weaves the characters and situations is captivating. The ending leaves you for wanting more.
Much like Edgar Rice Burrough's inspiration, William Morris helped to start the heroic fantasy/sword and sorcery genre with this little gem. I read this story based on De Camp's mention in the Literary Swordsmen & Sorcerers.
I'm looking forward to digging into THE WORM OUROBOROS by E. R. Eddison, ERIC BRIGHTEYES by H. R. Haggard and THE BROKEN SWORD by Poul Anderson.
Morris doesn't pull any punches for describing an "alien" place. The way he weaves the characters and situations is captivating. The ending leaves you for wanting more.
Much like Edgar Rice Burrough's inspiration, William Morris helped to start the heroic fantasy/sword and sorcery genre with this little gem. I read this story based on De Camp's mention in the Literary Swordsmen & Sorcerers.
I'm looking forward to digging into THE WORM OUROBOROS by E. R. Eddison, ERIC BRIGHTEYES by H. R. Haggard and THE BROKEN SWORD by Poul Anderson.
July 14, 2010
This is a true myth. I loved this book partly because I can see forshadows of Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Peake, Charles Williams and many other great writers of fantasy. What is the real world? And what must one do to find it? I make all things new, our Lord said. Write it down. That is humankind's hope, Christian or not. This myth leads one on a journey toward that new heaven and earth might begin to look like. The edition I have is a facsimile of the Kelmscott Press Edition-Gothic letters and Morris embelishments. A beautiful book.
November 10, 2019
Çok akıcı ve okuması kolay, su gibi giden, tatlı bir hikaye.
November 5, 2019
Yazarlık dışında bambaşka nitelikleriyle tanınan 19. Yüzyılın çılgın fantastik yazarı William Morris’in, İthaki Yayınları tarafından Unutulan Fantastik Klasikler serisi kapsamında Türkçeye kazandırılan eseri Dünyanın Ötesindeki Orman, aslında sıradan bir hayat süren Walter’ın, onu binbir türlü mutsuzlukla sınayan eşinden kaçma bahanesiyle atıldığı maceraları konu edinerek okuru fantastik bir dünyaya götürüyor.
Walter, Langton kasabasındaki sefil hayatını geride bırakarak ilk gördüğü gemiye atlayıp kalbinin onu götürdüğü yere doğru yolculuğa çıkıyor. Geminin mola noktasında babasının ölüm haberini alıp geri dönüş yolunda geminin fırtınaya yakalanması ve bir adaya sığınmak zorunda kalmasıyla Walter’ın kaderi onu gizemli bir ormanın içine sürüklüyor. Bu noktadan itibaren bizi kraliçeler, ayı-insanlar, cüceler ve yaratıklarla dolu fantastik bir kurgu karşılıyor.
Gerçekçi bir düzlemde başlayan bu büyülü hikayenin başlangıç ve bitiş noktaları arasındaki uçurum, dönem yazınına hakim olmayan okuru hazırlıksız yakalayarak sarsabilir. Hikayede olaylar o kadar hızlı gelişiyor ki bu adam ne yapıyordu ama kendini nerede buldu diye durup şaşırabilirsiniz.
Masalları seviyor, fantastik kurguya bayılıyorsanız kütüphanenize ekleyin. Sayfaları nasıl çevirdiğinizi anlamayacaksanız bile.
Walter, Langton kasabasındaki sefil hayatını geride bırakarak ilk gördüğü gemiye atlayıp kalbinin onu götürdüğü yere doğru yolculuğa çıkıyor. Geminin mola noktasında babasının ölüm haberini alıp geri dönüş yolunda geminin fırtınaya yakalanması ve bir adaya sığınmak zorunda kalmasıyla Walter’ın kaderi onu gizemli bir ormanın içine sürüklüyor. Bu noktadan itibaren bizi kraliçeler, ayı-insanlar, cüceler ve yaratıklarla dolu fantastik bir kurgu karşılıyor.
Gerçekçi bir düzlemde başlayan bu büyülü hikayenin başlangıç ve bitiş noktaları arasındaki uçurum, dönem yazınına hakim olmayan okuru hazırlıksız yakalayarak sarsabilir. Hikayede olaylar o kadar hızlı gelişiyor ki bu adam ne yapıyordu ama kendini nerede buldu diye durup şaşırabilirsiniz.
Masalları seviyor, fantastik kurguya bayılıyorsanız kütüphanenize ekleyin. Sayfaları nasıl çevirdiğinizi anlamayacaksanız bile.
August 6, 2018
It's easy to understand why William Morris (and this book of his in particular) inspired both Tolkien and Lewis so much. It talks of strange and almost-human races, of high fantasy themes and enchanted forests, and reminds you of common images from both the works of Tolkien and Lewis (but mostly the former).
The language is old English and you shouldn't expect to read this book with your usual speed, but it's worth it. The Bear-men reminded me of Beorn and his family, the Maid and her wedding (coming as the Queen of the men in Stark-wall) are very reminiscent of Arwen (including the way her wizardry fails her after settling down in marriage), the Lady is clearly the inspiration behind Tolkien's elves (besides the actual lore than depicted them more like little fairies), the dwarves are also present and so on.
Overall, it's cute and dreamy but not something you'd enjoy if it was written today (most probably). As long as it's read bearing in mind its times, The Wood Beyond the World is wonderful and whimsical. :)
The language is old English and you shouldn't expect to read this book with your usual speed, but it's worth it. The Bear-men reminded me of Beorn and his family, the Maid and her wedding (coming as the Queen of the men in Stark-wall) are very reminiscent of Arwen (including the way her wizardry fails her after settling down in marriage), the Lady is clearly the inspiration behind Tolkien's elves (besides the actual lore than depicted them more like little fairies), the dwarves are also present and so on.
Overall, it's cute and dreamy but not something you'd enjoy if it was written today (most probably). As long as it's read bearing in mind its times, The Wood Beyond the World is wonderful and whimsical. :)
May 16, 2023
A difficult book to read because of its archaic language, but an important one for anyone that wants to explore the roots of modern fantasy literature.
July 15, 2018
I was drawn to this book because of its unusual title (you'd expect it to be The World Beyond the Wood) and because of Morris's influence on the development of the high-fantasy genre.
With only later works e.g. Tolkien under my belt, I hadn't much of an idea what to expect from Morris. Two things were apparent after the first few pages:
(1) The archaic language was off-putting and greatly diminished my enjoyment.
(2) The plot was slow and scant (and opaque due to the language).
To be clear: it's not only the vocabulary that's archaic—
(be prepared for fluency in the like of: anigh, apaid, bemock, bewray, carle, chaffer, chancel, clomb, dight, drave, durst, hansel hight, howbeit, meseemeth, mickle, quoth, runagate, scatter-meal, scrip, sithence, somedeal, stead, thereto, trow, unshipped, well-favouredly, withal, wyte, etc.)
—it's the sentence structure as well. If you have a predilection for tight, well-ploted prose you'll struggle through the book.
What is called long-winded could also be considered beautifully lush when it comes to certain descriptions.
I now appreciate Tolkein's writing style in Lord of the Rings: it sings and snaps in comparison to Morris's.
That said, if you're looking to understand the origins of high-fantasy, this is a good place to start. Likewise, if you're looking to bridge the gap between medieval chivalrous romances and modern day fantasy.
The title of The Well at the World's End sounds equally enticing, but I'm not sure I'll be able to stomach 500 pages of similar writing. I’ll think about it.
With only later works e.g. Tolkien under my belt, I hadn't much of an idea what to expect from Morris. Two things were apparent after the first few pages:
(1) The archaic language was off-putting and greatly diminished my enjoyment.
(2) The plot was slow and scant (and opaque due to the language).
To be clear: it's not only the vocabulary that's archaic—
(be prepared for fluency in the like of: anigh, apaid, bemock, bewray, carle, chaffer, chancel, clomb, dight, drave, durst, hansel hight, howbeit, meseemeth, mickle, quoth, runagate, scatter-meal, scrip, sithence, somedeal, stead, thereto, trow, unshipped, well-favouredly, withal, wyte, etc.)
—it's the sentence structure as well. If you have a predilection for tight, well-ploted prose you'll struggle through the book.
What is called long-winded could also be considered beautifully lush when it comes to certain descriptions.
"Now he entered it by the porch, and came into a hall many-pillared, and vaulted over, the walls painted with gold and ultramarine, the floor dark, and spangled with many colours, and the windows glazed with knots and pictures. Midmost thereof was a fountain of gold, whence the water ran two ways in gold-lined runnels, spanned twice with little bridges of silver. Long was that hall, and now not very light, so that Walter was come past the fountain before he saw any folk therein: then he looked up toward the high-seat, and himseemed that a great light shone thence, and dazzled his eyes; and he went on a little way, and then fell on his knees; for there before him on the high-seat sat that wondrous Lady, whose lively image had been shown to him thrice before; and she was clad in gold and jewels, as he had erst seen her.
I now appreciate Tolkein's writing style in Lord of the Rings: it sings and snaps in comparison to Morris's.
That said, if you're looking to understand the origins of high-fantasy, this is a good place to start. Likewise, if you're looking to bridge the gap between medieval chivalrous romances and modern day fantasy.
The title of The Well at the World's End sounds equally enticing, but I'm not sure I'll be able to stomach 500 pages of similar writing. I’ll think about it.
April 13, 2019
This is another of those books one reads for the archaic prose.
August 28, 2017
якщо зі справжніми жінками у вільяма морріса були хоч наполовину такі специфічні стосунки, як із персонажками, то йому мусило цікаво житися. з головним героєм пов'язані три жінки: перша – дружина, якої читачі не бачать, але яка його, бідного й бездоганного, зраджує, призводячи зрештою до кривавої різанини між родинами, і від якої він тікає за моря; друга – могутня чаклунка (мабуть), яка його заманює до себе й тримає невідомо нащо, але точно зі злим умислом, може, щоб помучити свою служницю; третя – служниця другої, волоока діва з надприродними силами, які в неї зникнуть після сексу, тому вони з героєм, закохавшись із першого погляду, вирішують одне одного не торкатися (саме так. вочевидь, якщо закохані торкнуться, у них одразу ненавмисно вийде секс), доки не визволяться від чарівниці, але потім вона з радістю від цих здібностей відмовляється, бо нащо магія, коли є муж. і от ці три пані рухають сюжет. цікаво спостерігати, як герой ніби весь такий герой, але все, що з ним відбувається, стається майже без його участі, силами довколишніх жінок.
і, як на вікторіанську книжку, дуже багато голих людей.
і, як на вікторіанську книжку, дуже багато голих людей.
Read
July 24, 2025I can't find a lot of information about kary wilson, the narrator of the audio edition my library purchased; my impression was that she was a bit inexperienced as an audiobook narrator in particular but that I greatly enjoyed her narration all the same. a lovely voice, and good reading.
'my wife is cheating on me and I'd rather just not deal with it' is among the best inciting incidents I've ever read. this book is a wild ride for being so relatively plotless, although maybe after the previous sentence this one is redundant. and I think it would be a tremendous improvement if in our own contemporary society instead of the miserable retvrn guys we had a bunch of people walking around talking like this (extremely strong) 19th-century imitation of the 15th-century chivalric english of malory's take on arthuriana and what thou wot and wottest not!!!!
morris himself even seems like a fun guy I mean come on. even without all the other aspects we could look at here, I have to admire a guy who persisted in translating beowulf in spite of not understanding old english. my brother, my comrade
'my wife is cheating on me and I'd rather just not deal with it' is among the best inciting incidents I've ever read. this book is a wild ride for being so relatively plotless, although maybe after the previous sentence this one is redundant. and I think it would be a tremendous improvement if in our own contemporary society instead of the miserable retvrn guys we had a bunch of people walking around talking like this (extremely strong) 19th-century imitation of the 15th-century chivalric english of malory's take on arthuriana and what thou wot and wottest not!!!!
morris himself even seems like a fun guy I mean come on. even without all the other aspects we could look at here, I have to admire a guy who persisted in translating beowulf in spite of not understanding old english. my brother, my comrade
March 31, 2025
I wanted to like it because I do like classic fantasy adventures. But I just couldn't. The only reason I rated it 3 stars is because it must have been a monumental task to write this novel in Old English and I thoroughly enjoyed how the use of language pulled me in. But that's about it. I didn't like any of the characters, I still don't know whether the Lady and the Dwarf were villains or not, and I don't know if the Maid is a heroine because she could technically be lying. I'm a suspicious soul sometimes. As for Walter, there were several reasons why I don't care for him, and the ending did not change my mind.
Overall, I guess I'm just baffled. This feels like a cheaper, muddled version of George MacDonald's Phantastes. I get that C.S. Lewis admired William Morris, but for me, he's a bridge too far. Still glad I read The Wood Beyond the World and I may read it again, but for a lot of readers, it may prove to be a bit of a challenge.
Overall, I guess I'm just baffled. This feels like a cheaper, muddled version of George MacDonald's Phantastes. I get that C.S. Lewis admired William Morris, but for me, he's a bridge too far. Still glad I read The Wood Beyond the World and I may read it again, but for a lot of readers, it may prove to be a bit of a challenge.
October 4, 2024
I really hated this until the last 30 pages or so, but even that wasn't enough to save it. I've said it many times: the fact that a text is historically important does not make it good. Morris may have helped found fantasy as we know it, but his text is a mess of tropes, empty characters, and deeply problematic politics. And look. It was the late 1800s. I get that he's sexist. I get that he's racist. That doesn't make it ok, but I expected those things going in. My issue here is mostly that he undercuts his own point??? Like there's this whole thing about Walter being a lowborn who rises to the throne of Stark-wall based on merit/inner character, but after that it's just a bloodline again?? Morris' whole socialist message culminates in the founding of a NEW royal bloodline. Status-quo maintained. Monarchy enshrined. I see that this story could have had subversive potential at the time (maybe) but it didn't land right.
September 9, 2021
No me ha gustado nada
Me ha aburrido muchísimo y si se que esta escrito en 18xx y es padre madre de la fantasía pero es que no podía con el, no he conectado con nada. Y si juntamos la edición tan desastrosa pues apaga y vámonos.
El protagonista se mueve por impulsos externos, no se profundizaba en nada y luego el mundo de hadas que le tenia ganas, pues nada, insulso.
Me ha aburrido muchísimo y si se que esta escrito en 18xx y es padre madre de la fantasía pero es que no podía con el, no he conectado con nada. Y si juntamos la edición tan desastrosa pues apaga y vámonos.
El protagonista se mueve por impulsos externos, no se profundizaba en nada y luego el mundo de hadas que le tenia ganas, pues nada, insulso.
October 6, 2022
3,5/5
August 24, 2021
Puanım 4/5 (%77/100)
Başka bir kitap olsa puanım 3e kadar düşerdi fakat bu kitap için gerçekten kıyamadım. Niye düşük puan vermek istedim veya neden kıyamadım bunlardan bahsedeceğim. Önce kitap ne anlatıyor biraz ondan bahsedeyim.
Kitap Walter adlı ana karakterimizin evliliğinin sona ermesiyle başlıyor. Evlilik, aile ve şehirdeki problemler derken Walter boğulmaya başlıyor. Bu yüzden amaçsız bir şekilde bir deniz yolculuğuna çıkıyor ve şans eseri Dünyanın sonundaki ormana varıyor. İşte burada başlıyor aslında Walter'ın macerası. Genç bir kız ile tanışıp aşık olması, bu ormandaki değişik yaratıklar ve kişiler, daha sonradan tanıştığı Leydi ve birçok güzel karakterle tanışıyor Walter. Bir çeşit aşk üçgeni içinde kalan Walter'ın aşk dışında seçmesi gereken şeyler ve vermesi gereken önemli kararlar vardır. Bu şekilde Walter ile bir yolculuğa çıkıyoruz ve bu gizemli ormanda birçok şey keşfediyoruz.
Walter'ın karakteri tam bir Süperman. Ahlaki yönden mükemmel, fiziksel olarak oldukça güçlü ve her zaman iyilik düşünen birisi. (Bazıları gerçekten fazla mükemmel olduğunu düşünebilir.) Walter ile ilgili sevdiğim bir şey diğer karakterlerin onun adına birtakım kararlar vermesi ve Walter'ın bunun içinden çıkmaya çalışmasıydı. Leydi ile olan ilişkisi de harikaydı. Genç kız ile olan ilişkisi artık her yerde gördüğümüz "damsel in distress" yani başı dertte olan kız durumuydu. Klişe fantastik elementlere girersek çıkamayız zaten hiç girmiyorum. Şimdi bunları neden dert etmiyorum çünkü bu kitap o klişe haline gelmiş şeyleri yaratan kitaplardan birisi. 1800lü yıllarda yazılan ve J.R.R. Tolkien başta olmak üzere birçok yazarı etkileyen birisi Morris aslında. Bu yüzden kendisine saygım sonsuz. Bu sebepten bile kitaba tam puan verilebilir. Aslında düşük verme sebeplerimden birisi kitabın çok fazla bölüme ayrılmış olması ve bölüm başlıklarında açık açık "spoiler" verilmesi. Walter X ile buluşuyor, Walter X'e gidiyor gibi birçok başlık var. Daha bölümü okumadan ne olacağını öğreniyorsunuz ve bu da sürpriz olabilecek bazı yerlerin tadını kaçırmış. Onun dışında insanların neden bu kadar beğenmediğini anlamıyorum. Kitap yazıldığı zamana göre oldukça başarılı. Tekrar ediyorum; bu kitap fantastik edebiyatın temel taşlarından birisi, klişe fantastik elementleri var diye eleştirmek haksızlık olur.
Başka bir kitap olsa puanım 3e kadar düşerdi fakat bu kitap için gerçekten kıyamadım. Niye düşük puan vermek istedim veya neden kıyamadım bunlardan bahsedeceğim. Önce kitap ne anlatıyor biraz ondan bahsedeyim.
Kitap Walter adlı ana karakterimizin evliliğinin sona ermesiyle başlıyor. Evlilik, aile ve şehirdeki problemler derken Walter boğulmaya başlıyor. Bu yüzden amaçsız bir şekilde bir deniz yolculuğuna çıkıyor ve şans eseri Dünyanın sonundaki ormana varıyor. İşte burada başlıyor aslında Walter'ın macerası. Genç bir kız ile tanışıp aşık olması, bu ormandaki değişik yaratıklar ve kişiler, daha sonradan tanıştığı Leydi ve birçok güzel karakterle tanışıyor Walter. Bir çeşit aşk üçgeni içinde kalan Walter'ın aşk dışında seçmesi gereken şeyler ve vermesi gereken önemli kararlar vardır. Bu şekilde Walter ile bir yolculuğa çıkıyoruz ve bu gizemli ormanda birçok şey keşfediyoruz.
Walter'ın karakteri tam bir Süperman. Ahlaki yönden mükemmel, fiziksel olarak oldukça güçlü ve her zaman iyilik düşünen birisi. (Bazıları gerçekten fazla mükemmel olduğunu düşünebilir.) Walter ile ilgili sevdiğim bir şey diğer karakterlerin onun adına birtakım kararlar vermesi ve Walter'ın bunun içinden çıkmaya çalışmasıydı. Leydi ile olan ilişkisi de harikaydı. Genç kız ile olan ilişkisi artık her yerde gördüğümüz "damsel in distress" yani başı dertte olan kız durumuydu. Klişe fantastik elementlere girersek çıkamayız zaten hiç girmiyorum. Şimdi bunları neden dert etmiyorum çünkü bu kitap o klişe haline gelmiş şeyleri yaratan kitaplardan birisi. 1800lü yıllarda yazılan ve J.R.R. Tolkien başta olmak üzere birçok yazarı etkileyen birisi Morris aslında. Bu yüzden kendisine saygım sonsuz. Bu sebepten bile kitaba tam puan verilebilir. Aslında düşük verme sebeplerimden birisi kitabın çok fazla bölüme ayrılmış olması ve bölüm başlıklarında açık açık "spoiler" verilmesi. Walter X ile buluşuyor, Walter X'e gidiyor gibi birçok başlık var. Daha bölümü okumadan ne olacağını öğreniyorsunuz ve bu da sürpriz olabilecek bazı yerlerin tadını kaçırmış. Onun dışında insanların neden bu kadar beğenmediğini anlamıyorum. Kitap yazıldığı zamana göre oldukça başarılı. Tekrar ediyorum; bu kitap fantastik edebiyatın temel taşlarından birisi, klişe fantastik elementleri var diye eleştirmek haksızlık olur.
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