Baron Dunsany was born in London in 1878, the scion of an Anglo-Irish family that could trace its ancestry to the twelfth century. During his life Dunsany distinguished himself as both an author and a dramatist, he once had five plays running concurrently on Broadway, and is now recognised as a leading figure in the development of modern fantasy literature. His works include The Book of Wonder (1912), Plays of Gods and Men (1917) and The Curse of the Wise Woman (1933). S.T. Joshi is a freelance writer and editor who has previously edited Penguin Classics editions of The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories (2001) and Ancient Sorceries and Other Strange Stories (2002). Amongst his other published titles are Lord Dunsany: Master of the Anglo-Irish Imagination (1995) and The Modern Weird Tale (2001). He currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

"Dunsany's best stories remain unique: nobody else has ever been able to capture his visions....S.T. Joshi, a biographer of Dunsany and an expert in the Weird, has given us an excellent introduction and notes." —Ursula K. Le Guin, Los Angeles Times Book Review

• IntroductionSuggestions for Further ReadingA Note on the TextI.     Pegana and EnvironsThe Gods of PeganaTime and the GodsA Legend of the DawnIn the Land of TimeThe Relenting of SardinacThe Fall of BabbulkundII.     Tales of Wonder   The Sword of WelleranThe Kith of the Elf-FolkThe GhostsThe Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for SacnothBlagdarossIdle Days on the YannA Shop in Go-by StreetThe Avenger of PerdónarisThe Bride of the Man-HorseIII.     Prose PoemsWhere the Tides Ebb and FlowThe Raft-BuildersThe Prayer of the FlowersThe WorkmanCharonCarcassonneRosesThe CityIV.     Fantasy and RealityThe Wonderful WindowThe Coronation of Mr. Thomas ShapThe City on Mallington MoorThe Bureau d'Echange de MauxThe Exile's ClubThirteen at TableThe Last Dream of Bwona KhublaV.     JorkensThe Tale of the Abu LaheebOur Distant CousinsThe Walk to LinghamThe Development of the Rillswood EstateA Life's WorkVI.     Some Late TalesThe Policeman's ProphecyThe Two Bottles of RelishThe CutPoseidonHelping the FairiesThe Romance of His LifeThe Pirate of the Round PondExplanatory Notes