From the publication of his first book in 1905 until his death, Lord Dunsany (1878-1957) was an immensely popular Anglo-Irish writer. He has long been an admired figure in the realms of fantasy, horror, and the supernatural, and was a friend and colleague of such writers as W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, James Stephens, and Oliver St. John Gogarty. In recent years he has enjoyed a resurgence as a pioneering writer of imaginary-world fantasy and as an immense influence on later work in the genre. Critical Essays on Lord Dunsany is the first volume to assemble essays and reviews of Dunsany's work. It includes memoirs, general treatments of Dunsany's work, studies of his short fiction, novels, and plays, and discussions of his influence on such writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and H. P. Lovecraft. Beginning with Edward Thomas's 1905 review of The Gods of Pegana, the book contains other early articles and reviews by writers that include Yeats, Lovecraft, H. L. Mencken, Rebecca West, and Arthur C. Clarke.
Seven original essays by leading contemporary scholars on Dunsany focus on such topics as Dunsany's use of medieval archetypes in his fantasy novels; the distinctiveness of his recurring character, the clubman Joseph Jorkens; the influence of Don Quixote on his first novel, The Chronicles of Rodriguez (1922); and the treatment of religion in his later novels. Collectively, this anthology presents a comprehensive picture of the totality of Dunsany's distinctive work and his contribution to fantasy fiction and world literature, and makes a case for the continued study of this neglected but hugely influential writer. Critical Essays on Lord Dunsany will be of great interest to enthusiasts of Dunsany's work, as well as to students and scholars of fantasy, horror, the supernatural, and Irish literature.
Industry Reviews
S .T. Joshi's edited collection critical essays on Lord Dunsany is a strong addition to the field of Dunsany studies. Dunsany was a well-known author in his day, but suffered a decline in appeal and accessibility until recent decades. Joshi points out the increasing scholarly interest in Dunsany. . . .[T]his group of essays is a finely balanced addition to the fantasy field. * Mythlore *
This volume collects twenty-eight essays, twelve of which date from Dunsany's life time, the earliest being a 1905 review of his first book; together they constitute an excellent overview of reactions to Dunsany and his works.... Readers with an interest in Dunsany will find this volume very rich and helpful, and those with an interest in Yeats, Lovecraft, Anglo-Irish literature, magical realism, and the history of fantasy will be rewarded as well. The selection is as Joshi claims, a 'representative sampling' (xv). Like many readers of Dunsany, my interests had focused only on certain works, neglecting others; this volume has given me a basis from which to explore and appreciate the rest of his oeuvre. * Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts *
