William Morris 
The Well at the World’s End 

In ‘The Well at the World’s End’ by William Morris, readers are transported to a fantastical world where magic and adventure reign supreme. The book follows the journey of a young prince who sets out on a quest to find the legendary Well at the World’s End, a mythical spring with the power to grant eternal youth. Morris’ prose is rich and evocative, drawing on medieval folklore and romantic themes to create a vivid and enchanting narrative that will captivate readers with its detailed world-building and poetic language. The book is a classic example of the high fantasy genre, with echoes of Arthurian legend and heroic quests that will appeal to fans of fantasy literature. The Well at the World’s End explores themes of longing, destiny, and the transformative power of love, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in exploring deeper philosophical questions through the guise of a thrilling adventure story.

About the author

William Morris (1834–1896) was a man of multifarious talents: an English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and social activist who played a significant role in propagating the British Arts and Crafts Movement. Celebrated for his contributions to decorative arts and his early advocacy for socialism in Britain, Morris is also renowned in literary circles for his fantasy novels. Among these, ‘The Well at the World’s End’, published in 1896, is a seminal work that has inspired a generation of fantasy writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. It is a rich tapestry of chivalry and adventure, embodying Morris’s archaic prose style and weaving themes of romance and heroism into an imagined medieval world. Morris’s literary oeuvre is marked by a synthesis of his socialist principles and a romantic revival of Gothic and medieval motifs, employing a language that harks back to the idyllic and mythological past. His other significant works include ‘The Wood Beyond the World’ and ‘News from Nowhere’, which further solidify his position as a visionary and storyteller. An adherent of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Morris’s artistic output and political engagements were informed by his belief in the socialist doctrine and the capability of art to transform society. Through his interdisciplinary pursuits, Morris established an enduring legacy, shaping both literary form and social thought in the late Victorian era.