The Roots of the Mountains

Part I of II

William Morris

Volumes of I and II of "The Roots of the Mountains" by William Morris as published by Hyldyr

The history-inspired roots of fantasy fiction, including the works of J. R. R. Tolkien & beyond

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One of the most influential novels ever written but today quite obscure and rarely in print, English polymath William Morris’s The Roots of the Mountains may well be the first true modern fantasy fiction novel. Steeped in the plight of a group of pagan Goths who dwell in a lush dale, this sprawling tale follows the experiences of the novel’s hero, Face-of-god, who encounters a group of mysterious warriors deep in the mountain wilderness. What they tell him changes his world — and that of everyone else he knows and loves. Inspired by historic accounts of the Goths and Huns, and reflecting Morris’s own interests in topics like nature, art, and Marxism, The Roots of the Mountains deeply influenced many works that followed it, including the novels of J. R. R. Tolkien and numerous subsequent popular fantasy fiction properties, from video games to films. This edition features new supplementary materials and an introduction from Ruth Tolkien, great-granddaughter of J. R. R. Tolkien.

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Click here to view part II of II

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