Book cover of The Wood Beyond the World

Book description

A source of inspiration for the modern fantasy genre. A major influence on many writers of fantasy fiction, including C.S. Lewis (Narnia) and J.R.R. Tolkein (The Lord of the Rings). With a new Introduction by Ebenezer DuLally Uvney


William Morris (1834-1896) is best known as a designer of fabrics, wallpaper,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Wood Beyond the World as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

When I first came across this story by William Morris, I didn’t think it was Victorian at all. The language and tone are archaically medieval, as are the plot points involving daggers and dwarves. And yet Morris was very much a nineteenth-century writer insofar as he shared that period’s interest in foreign times and places, including the historical past.

While Thackeray liked the eighteenth century, Morris was obsessed with the Middle Ages, and this book represents an attempt to adapt the style and spirit of chivalric romances to the form of the modern novel. The resulting work, by turns dreamy…

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Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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