Customer Reviews

Sundering Flood

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Sundering Flood is my favorite among Morris's fantasies, and was one of the last (if not the very last one) written. His earlier works (Wood Beyond the World, Well at the World's End, etc.) are modelled after the romances of the high Middle Ages and late medieval/renaissance works. In The Sundering Flood, Moris looks back further in time, and incorporates thematic and stylistic elements of the Norse sagas. This is particularly evident in the first part of this work. The overall structure does resemble Well at the World's End, but this work is not derivative. The action is tighter, more varied, and more detailed. It is the closest of Morris's fantasies to a modern novel. The language remains archaic, and might put off some readers; but if you persevere you will adjust to it, and find this a great story.

Morris devotees will find it well worth reading (and the four stars are for benefit of those readers). Others may find it impenetrable. Those who have never read any of Morris' works absolutely should start with The Well at the World's End, which is his masterwork, and I'd hate for anyone to be discouraged from that experience.