Victorian Fantasy: Lord Dunsany

This month's meeting of "Magic, Monsters, and Other Worlds: The Fantastic in Victorian Literature" featured three stories by the writer Lord  Dunsany: "The Sword of Welleran," "The Fall of Babbulkund," and "The Highwaymen." (All three are available in the volume The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories.)


Sir JJ Drinkwater

Ably led as always by Sir JJ Drinkwater, we had a lively discussion about Lord Dunsany's writing style - florid, deliberately archaic, and, as Sir JJ commented, reminiscent of the language of the King James Bible - and about the stories themselves.


Mr. Rory Torrance and Mr. Muse Starsmith

"The Sword of Welleran" describes the town of Merimna, and the great heroes that defended the city against foreign invaders years before, and Rold, who took up arms to defend the city in its time of need. "The Fall of Babbulkund" tells the story of a group of travelers, bound for the legendary city of Babbulkund, who heard stories of the wonders of the city from fellow travelers. However, before the group reached the city, it was destroyed." "The Highwaymen" tells of a hanged highwayman, Tom O' the Roads, and his friends who returned to bury him. Strange tales indeed.


Miss Ellie Edo


Mr. Zantyago Mannonen


Miss Herndon Bluebird


Your humble scribe


Miss Jessie Darwin

Next month, the group will be discussing two poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: "The Lady of Shallot" and "The Lotus Eaters."