Lord Dunsany: Don Rodriguez (1972, Pan/Ballantine)
274 pages
English language
Published Nov. 9, 1972 by Pan/Ballantine.
Lord Dunsany's first novel, "Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley" conveys its young disinherited protagonist through a fantasized Spain, gifting him with a Sancho Panza companion, good luck with magicians, and a castle" [The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]. It is a landmark tale for Dunsany, beginning his move from the otherworldly short stories for which his reputation is justly famous to novels, such as the follow-up The King of Elfland's Daughter and The Charwoman's Shadow. L. Sprague de Camp has said: "Dunsany was the second writer (William Morris in the 1880s being the first) fully to exploit the possibilities of . . . adventurous fantasy laid in imaginary lands, with gods, witches, spirits, and magic.
I have to give this one 5 stars, just because I enjoyed reading it so much. Dunsany wrote this in a fun, light tone, in many ways similar to a fairy tale. Perhaps it takes some time getting used to Dunsany‘s unique style, but this charming little book is absolutely worth it.
