An influential fantasy writer and a key figure in the Irish literary renaissance, Edward J. M. D. Plunkett, the eighteenth Baron Dunsany (1878-1957) produced a trove of gems of the imagination. The 12 stories here are some of his best. They will take you on a remarkable journey to places that sometimes seem soft and pleasant, sometimes bleak and ominous — but always surprising. Ten magnificent illustrations by S. H. Simes, perfectly reflecting Dunsany’s mood, accompany such inventive tales as "The Highwayman," "In the Twilight," "The Ghosts," "The Lord of Cities," "The Doom of La Traviata," and the title piece. A delight for lovers of fantasy, the volume will enchant readers of folk tales and science fiction as well.
Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Baron of Dunsany (1878 – 1957) was an Irish writer and dramatist, notable for his work, mostly in fantasy, published under the name Lord Dunsany. More than eighty books of his work were published, and his oeuvre includes many hundreds of published short stories, as well as successful plays, novels and essays. Lord Dunsany is the author of such celebrated works as The Book of Wonder (1912) and The King of Elfland's Daughter (1924). Over the course of a career that spanned more than five decades, Dunsany wrote thousands of stories, plays, novels, essays, poems, and reviews, and his work was translated into more than a dozen languages. Today, Dunsany's work is experiencing a renaissance, as many of his earlier works have been reprinted and much attention has been paid to his place in the history of fantasy and supernatural literature.