Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley

by Lord Dunsany

Book Overview

Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley (1922). Having established himself as a bestselling author of short fiction, Dunsany published Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley, his first novel. Recognized as a pioneering author of fantasy and science fiction, Dunsany is a man whose work, in the words of H. P. Lovecraft, remains "unexcelled in the sorcery of crystalline singing prose, and supreme in the creation of a gorgeous and languorous world of incandescently exotic vision." In an ancient, mythical Spain, a world of castles, dragons, and magic, Don Rodriguez responds to his father's summons. Before the throne of the Lord of the Valleys of Arguento Harez, the young man learns of his fate. His younger brother, a simple, unskilled man, will inherit the kingdom upon his father's death. Don Rodriguez, a skilled musician and legendary swordsman, must venture off into the unknown in order to prove himself, or die trying. Armed with his father's ancient Castilian blade, he sets out to find a servant to accompany him. His final destination is the mysterious Shadow Valley, a haunted realm from which few ever return. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Lord Dunsany's Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley is a classic of British fantasy fiction reimagined for modern readers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1513282794
• ISBN13: 9781513282794
• Release Date: May 2021
• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Rich writing and swashbuckling plot

This is the first novel by Lord Dunsany (aka Edward JMD Plunkett), a turn of the 19th/20th century author who was a pioneer in what was to become the genre of "Fantasy". His writing is some of the richest, most beautiful English I've ever read and his novels are a treasure for that reason alone. He also has an insight and storytelling skill that rates his writing as "literature" - much more so than all but the best fantasy authors (such as Ursula LeGuin). That being said, this novel is notable for being a little more "fun" than his high fantasy that follows - it has a lot of humor and derring-do in it and is somewhat reminiscent of Dumas's "Three Musketeers" in that element. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard while reading such excellent prose! The plot revolves around the adventures of a young Spanish gentleman, who not being the eldest son will not inherit his father's property must seek his own fortune. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Dumas, Stevenson, "The Princess Bride", or Zorro!