The celebrated medievalist William Morris was among the first writers to combine supernatural elements with worldbuilding. He created the precursors of modern fantasy fiction, and both C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien acknowledged his influence on their writing. In his final novel, Morris draws upon Icelandic lore to tell a tale of two lovers, Osberne and Elfhild, separated by a broad river. When Elfhild vanishes from the riverbank, Osberne takes up his magical sword Boardcleaver and begins a desperate search. He soon finds himself battling a tyrannical king in the service of rebel knight Sir Godrick of Longshaw, but Osberne can never forget the quest for his lost love.
A captivating blend of chivalric romance and wizardry, this volume is a facsimile of the highly ornamented Kelmscott Press edition of 1897. The text is printed in black, with red chapter titles, and the lovely borders and initials are Morris's own design.

Contenu

I. Of a river called the Sundering Flood, and of the folks that dwelt thereby II. Of Wethermel and the child OsberneIII. Wolves harry the flockIV. Surly John falls out with the goodmanV. Osberne slays the wolvesVI. They fare to the Cloven MoteVII. Of a newcomer, and his gift to OsberneVIII. The goodman gets a new hired manIX. The Bight of the Cloven KnollX. Osberne and Elfhild hold converse togetherXI. Osberne shoots a gift across the FloodXII. Of a guest called WaywearerXIII. Steelhead gives Osberne the sword Board-cleaverXIV. Steelhead takes leave of Osberne XV. Surly John brings a guest to WethermelXVI. Hardcastle would seize WethermelXVII. Osberne slayeth HardcastleXVIII. Osberne tells Elfhild of the killing of HardcastleXIX. The winter passes, and Elfhild tells of the death of her kinswomanXX. Osberne fares to East Cheaping and brings gifts for ElfhildXXI. Warriors from East Cheaping ride into the DaleXXII. Osberne takes leave of ElfhildXXIII. Osberne is chosen captain of the DalesmenXXIV. A skirmish with the Baron of Deepdale in the marshesXXV. Stephen tells of an adventure in the camp of the FoemenXXVI. They bring the Baron into East CheapingXXVII. They parley from the wallsXXVIII. The Baron of Deepdale makes peaceXXIX. Osberne and his men return to WethermelXXX. Osberne goes to the trysting-placeXXXI. They meet through autumn and winterXXXII. Foemen among the West DalersXXXIII. Osberne seeks tidings of ElfhildXXXIV. Osberne sorrows for the loss of ElfhildXXXV.berne seeks counsel of SteelheadXXXVI. The staves which Osberne taught to the DalesmenXXXVII. Osberne takes leave of WethermelXXXVIII. Osberne parts fron Stephen the EaterXXXIX. Osberne gets him a new masterXL. Osberne rides with Sir GodrickXLI. They joust with the Knight of the FishXLII. They deliver the thorpedwellers from the Black SkinnersXLIII. They come to the edge of the Wood MasterlessXLIV. They reach Longshaw, and Osberne gets him a new nameXLV. The Red Lad scatters the host of the BaronsXLVI. Osberne enters the City of the Sundering FloodXLVII. The Battle in the SquareXLVIII. Sir Godrick is chosen Burgreve of the CityXLIX. The Red Lad takes leave of Sir GodrickL. The Red Lad speaks privily with Sir GodrickLI. Osberne is beguiled by felonsLII. The meeting of Osberne and ElfhildLIII. They come to Wethermel, and the Carline begins a taleLIV. The Blue Knight buys the Maiden of the ChapmanLV. The Blue Knight talks with the Maiden by the wayLVI. They come to BrooksideLVII. The Maiden bears tidings of a young champion at LongshawLVIII. The Blue Knight and his host leave BrooksideLIX. The Maiden and the Carline flee to the Grey SistersLX. They fall in with three ChapmenLXI. They escape from the Chapmen by the Carline's wizardyLXII. The Carline endeth her taleLXIII. Osberne and Elfhild make themselves known to their peopleLXIV. The Lip of the Sundering FloodLXV. A friend at needLXVI. The Lord of Longshaw gathereth force