Customer Reviews

The Water of the Wondrous Isles (Large Print Edition)

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THE WELL AT THE WORLD'S END is the place to start for William Morris novels, but after that, if you want more, you might check out his other "W" books, THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD and this one. WATER's story doesn't go from A to B, but rather A to B to C to D... In other words, it's episodic, though each episode leads to the next. The heroine, Birdalone, is a feminist roll-model, which is shocking in a Victorian novel; she's physically strong, intelligent, authoritative, good and kind. I can't think of another Victorian novel heroine who is all those things(three out of four, yes, but not all). Also, there is plain talk of sex; nothing R-rated, just PG-13, but very rare in Victorian literature. The point is that this is a unique book, even as unique books go. Plus, Morris's prose is practically poetry, and he's a master of details for characters and settings, never saying too much or little, which strikes a perfect balance between realism and mythicalness.

what must it have been like to have been a powerful, independent woman and to have read this epic fantasy in 1895, the year of its publication, twenty five years before women were given the vote in America? this epic of powerful, able females (and the bonds of friendship which both bind and conflict them) is far more than a melodrama of its day, and William Morris was a visionary in his portrayal of, and obvious admiration for, strong women. Every bit as good as THE WELL AT THE WORLD'S END...with great women baddies, as well, and kind, generous, and faithful men....check it out!