The Water of the Wondrous Isles
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About This Book
The Water of the Wondrous Isles is a fantasy novel by William Morris, perhaps the first writer of modern fantasy to unite an imaginary world with the element of the supernatural, and thus a precursor of much of present-day fantasy literature.[1] It was first printed in 1897 by Morris' own Kelmscott Press on vellum and artisanal paper in a blackletter type of his own design. For the wider reading public, a hardcover trade edition was published later that year by Longmans, Green and Co. The novel's importance in the history of fantasy literature was recognized by its republication by Ballantine ...
Chapters (118)
- THE WATER OF THE WONDROUS ISLES
- CONTENTS
- THE FIRST PART: OF THE HOUSE OF CAPTIVITY.
- CHAPTER I. CATCH AT UTTERHAY.
- CHAPTER II. NOW SHALL BE TOLD OF THE HOUSE BY THE WATER-SIDE.
- CHAPTER III. OF SKIN-CHANGING.
- CHAPTER IV. OF THE WAXING OF THE STOLEN CHILD.
- CHAPTER V. OF BIRDALONE, AND HOW SHE IS GROWN INTO MAIDENHOOD.
- CHAPTER VI. HEREIN IS TOLD OF BIRDALONE’S RAIMENT.
- CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE HATH AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOOD.
- CHAPTER VIII. OF BIRDALONE AND THE WITCH-WIFE.
- CHAPTER IX. OF BIRDALONE’S SWIMMING.
- CHAPTER X. BIRDALONE COMES ON NEW TIDINGS.
- CHAPTER XI. OF BIRDALONE’S GUILT AND THE CHASTISEMENT THEREOF.
- CHAPTER XII. THE WORDS OF THE WITCH-WIFE TO BIRDALONE.
- CHAPTER XIII. BIRDALONE MEETETH THE WOOD-WOMAN AGAIN.
- CHAPTER XIV. OF BIRDALONE’S FISHING.
- CHAPTER XV. BIRDALONE WEARETH HER SERPENT-RING.
- CHAPTER XVI. BIRDALONE MEETETH HABUNDIA AGAIN; AND LEARNETH HER FIRST WISDOM OF HER.
- CHAPTER XVII. THE PASSING OF THE YEAR INTO WINTER.
- CHAPTER XVIII. OF SPRING-TIDE AND THE MIND OF BIRDALONE.
- CHAPTER XIX. THEY BID FAREWELL, BIRDALONE AND THE WOOD-MOTHER.
- CHAPTER XX. OF BIRDALONE AND THE SENDING BOAT.
- THE SECOND PART: OF THE WONDROUS ISLES
- CHAPTER I. THE FIRST ISLE.
- CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE FALLETH IN WITH NEW FRIENDS.
- CHAPTER III. BIRDALONE IS BROUGHT BEFORE THE WITCH-WIFE’S SISTER.
- CHAPTER IV. OF THE WITCH’S PRISON IN THE WAILING-TOWER.
- CHAPTER V. THEY FEAST IN THE WITCH’S PRISON.
- CHAPTER VI. ATRA TELLS OF HOW THEY THREE CAME UNTO THE ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT.
- CHAPTER VII. THE THREE DAMSELS TAKE BIRDALONE OUT OF THE WITCH’S PRISON.
- CHAPTER VIII. IN WHAT WISE BIRDALONE WAS CLAD, AND HOW SHE WENT HER WAYS FROM THE ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT.
- CHAPTER IX. HOW BIRDALONE CAME TO THE ISLE OF THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
- CHAPTER X. BIRDALONE COMES TO THE ISLE OF THE QUEENS.
- CHAPTER XI. AND NOW SHE COMES TO THE ISLE OF THE KINGS.
- CHAPTER XII. OF BIRDALONE, HOW SHE CAME UNTO THE ISLE OF NOTHING.
- THE THIRD PART: OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER I. BIRDALONE COMES TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER II. OF BIRDALONE, AND HOW SHE RESTED THE NIGHT THROUGH IN A BOWER WITHOUT THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER III. HOW BIRDALONE DIGHT HER FOR MEETING THE CHAMPIONS OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER IV. AND NOW SHE MEETS THE CHAMPIONS.
- CHAPTER V. BIRDALONE HAS TRUE TOKENS FROM THE CHAMPIONS OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER VI. HOW THE CHAMPIONS WOULD DO BIRDALONE TO BE CLAD ANEW IN THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER VII. OF BIRDALONE, HOW SHE TOLD THE CHAMPIONS ALL HER TALE.
- CHAPTER VIII. IN THE MEANWHILE OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHAMPIONS, THEY WOULD PLEASURE BIRDALONE WITH FEATS OF ARMS AND GAMES OF PROWESS.
- CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE COMETH BEFORE THE CHAMPIONS IN HER NEW ARRAY.
- CHAPTER X. THE CHAMPIONS GO THEIR WAYS IN THE SENDING BOAT.
- THE FOURTH PART: OF THE DAYS OF ABIDING.
- CHAPTER I. OF BIRDALONE’S GRIEF; AND OF LEONARD THE CHAPLAIN.
- CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE LEARNETH LORE OF THE PRIEST. TEN DAYS OF WAITING WEAR.
- CHAPTER III. NOW WOULD BIRDALONE RIDE ABROAD.
- CHAPTER IV. OF BIRDALONE’S FARING ABROAD.
- CHAPTER V. SIR AYMERIS SHOWETH BIRDALONE THE MOUNTAINS AFAR OFF.
- CHAPTER VI. BIRDALONE HEARETH TELL TALES OF THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS.
- CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE BEGUILETH THE PRIEST TO HELP HER TO OUTGOING.
- CHAPTER VIII. BIRDALONE FARES ON HER ADVENTURE.
- CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE COMES TO THE BLACK VALLEY.
- CHAPTER X. HOW BIRDALONE FELL IN WITH A MAN IN THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS.
- CHAPTER XI. BIRDALONE IS LED UP THE BLACK VALLEY.
- CHAPTER XII. HOW THOSE TWAIN GET THEM FROM OUT OF THE BLACK VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS.
- CHAPTER XIII. NOW THEY REST FOR THE NIGHT IN THE STRAIT PASS.
- CHAPTER XIV. THE BLACK KNIGHT TELLS THE TRUTH OF HIMSELF.
- CHAPTER XV. THE BLACK KNIGHT BRINGS BIRDALONE TO THE BOWER IN THE DALE.
- CHAPTER XVI. YET A DAY AND A NIGHT THEY TARRY IN THE DALE.
- THE FIFTH PART: THE TALE OF THE QUEST’S ENDING.
- CHAPTER I. OF SIR LEONARD’S TROUBLE AND THE COMING OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER II. NOW ASK THEY OF BIRDALONE, AND SIR LEONARD SPEAKS.
- CHAPTER III. HOW THEY FOLLOW THE SLOT OF BIRDALONE AND THE BLACK KNIGHT.
- CHAPTER IV. OF THE SLAYING OF FRIEND AND FOE.
- CHAPTER V. THEY COME HOME TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER VI. OF THE TALK BETWIXT BIRDALONE AND VIRIDIS.
- CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE TELLETH THE TALE OF HER WANDERING UP THE VALLEY OF THE GREYWETHERS.
- CHAPTER VIII. ATRA AND BIRDALONE TALK TOGETHER WHILE THE LORDS SIT AT THE MURDER-COUNCIL.
- CHAPTER IX. HUGH TELLS THE STORY OF THE QUEST’S ENDING.
- CHAPTER X. HOW IT FARED WITH THE THREE LADIES AFTER THE ESCAPE OF BIRDALONE.
- CHAPTER XI. BIRDALONE AND THE BLACK SQUIRE TALK TOGETHER IN THE HALL OF THE CASTLE.
- CHAPTER XII. THE KNIGHTS AND THEIR FELLOWS BETAKE THEM TO THE ASSAULTING OF THE RED HOLD.
- CHAPTER XIII. BIRDALONE BETHINKS HER TO FULFIL THE PROMISE MADE UNTO ATRA.
- CHAPTER XIV. BIRDALONE LEAVES THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- THE SIXTH PART: THE DAYS OF ABSENCE.
- CHAPTER I. BIRDALONE RIDES TO GREENFORD AND THERE TAKES LEAVE OF ARNOLD AND HIS MEN.
- CHAPTER II. OF BIRDALONE AND HER FELLOWSHIP, THEIR FARING OVER THE DOWNLAND.
- CHAPTER III. THEY COME TO THE CITY OF THE FIVE CRAFTS, AND BIRDALONE MEETS WITH THE POOR-WIFE.
- CHAPTER IV. OF THE LOVE OF GERARD’S SONS AND OF JACOBUS FOR BIRDALONE.
- CHAPTER V. OF THE DEATH OF AUDREY, MOTHER TO BIRDALONE. SHE IS WARNED IN A DREAM TO SEEK THE BLACK SQUIRE, AND IS MINDED TO DEPART THE CITY OF THE FIVE CRAFTS, AND SEEK AGAIN THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER VI. OF THE SUNDERING OF BIRDALONE FROM GERARD AND HIS SONS.
- CHAPTER VII. BIRDALONE COMETH TO GREENFORD, AND HEARS OF THE WASTING OF THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER VIII. BIRDALONE COMETH TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST, HEARETH THE TALE THEREOF FROM LEONARD, AND DEPARTETH THENCE BY THE SENDING BOAT.
- CHAPTER IX. BIRDALONE FINDETH THE ISLE OF NOTHING GREATLY BETTERED, AND IS KINDLY ENTREATED THERE.
- CHAPTER X. OF BIRDALONE’S FLITTING FROM THE ISLE OF NOTHING.
- CHAPTER XI. COMING TO THE ISLE OF KINGS BIRDALONE FINDETH THERE A SCORE AND TWO OF FAIR DAMSELS WHO WOULD FAIN HAVE HER COMPANY.
- CHAPTER XII. BIRDALONE COMETH AGAIN TO THE ISLE OF QUEENS, AND FINDETH A PERILOUS ADVENTURE THEREIN.
- CHAPTER XIII. COMING TO THE ISLE OF THE YOUNG AND THE OLD, BIRDALONE FINDETH IT PEOPLED WITH CHILDREN.
- CHAPTER XIV. THE SENDING BOAT DISAPPEARETH FROM THE ISLE OF INCREASE UNSOUGHT, AND BIRDALONE SEEKETH TO ESCAPE THENCE BY SWIMMING.
- CHAPTER XV. BIRDALONE LACKETH LITTLE OF DROWNING, BUT COMETH LATTERLY TO THE GREEN EYOT.
- CHAPTER XVI. BIRDALONE FINDETH HER WITCH-MISTRESS DEAD.
- CHAPTER XVII. BIRDALONE LAYETH TO EARTH THE BODY OF THE WITCH, AND FINDETH THE SENDING BOAT BROKEN UP.
- CHAPTER XVIII. THE WOOD-MOTHER COMETH TO BIRDALONE AND HEARETH HER STORY.
- CHAPTER XIX. HABUNDIA HIDETH BIRDALONE’S NAKEDNESS WITH FAERY RAIMENT.
- CHAPTER XX. BIRDALONE TELLETH HABUNDIA OF HER LOVE FOR ARTHUR, AND GETTETH FROM HER PROMISE OF HELP THEREIN.
- CHAPTER XXI. HOW THE WOOD-WIFE ENTERED THE COT, AND A WONDER THAT BEFELL THEREON.
- CHAPTER XXII. BIRDALONE WENDETH THE WILDWOOD IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HABUNDIA.
- CHAPTER XXIII. THE WOOD-WIFE BRINGETH BIRDALONE TO THE SIGHT OF ARTHUR IN THE WILDWOOD.
- CHAPTER XXIV. THE WOOD-MOTHER CHANGETH HER FORM TO THAT OF A WOMAN STRICKEN IN YEARS.
- CHAPTER XXV. THE WOOD-WIFE HEALETH AND TENDETH THE BLACK SQUIRE.
- CHAPTER XXVI. THE BLACK SQUIRE TELLETH THE WOOD-WIFE OF HIS DOINGS SINCE BIRDALONE WENT FROM THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST.
- CHAPTER XXVII. SIR ARTHUR COMETH TO THE HOUSE UNDER THE WOOD.
- CHAPTER XXVIII. FAIR DAYS IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE.
- CHAPTER XXIX. THOSE TWAIN WILL SEEK THE WISDOM OF THE WOOD-WIFE.
- CHAPTER XXX. THEY HAVE SPEECH WITH HABUNDIA CONCERNING THE GREEN KNIGHT AND HIS FELLOWS.
- CHAPTER XXXI. HABUNDIA COMETH WITH TIDINGS OF THOSE DEAR FRIENDS.
- CHAPTER XXXII. OF THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST AND THE RESCUE OF THOSE FRIENDS FROM THE MEN OF THE RED COMPANY.
- CHAPTER XXXIII. VIRIDIS TELLETH THE TALE OF THEIR SEEKING.
- THE SEVENTH PART: THE DAYS OF RETURNING.
- CHAPTER I. SIR HUGH ASKETH BIRDALONE WHERE SHE WOULD HAVE THE ABODE OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP TO BE.
- CHAPTER II. BIRDALONE TAKETH COUNSEL WITH HER WOOD-MOTHER CONCERNING THE MATTER OF SIR HUGH.
- CHAPTER III. OF THE JOURNEYING THROUGH THE FOREST OF EVILSHAW UNTO THE TOWN OF UTTERHAY.
- CHAPTER IV. OF THE ABIDING IN UTTERHAY IN LOVE AND CONTENTMENT.
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