Time and the Gods
Encyclopedia
Time and the Gods is the second book by Irish
fantasy
writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien
, H. P. Lovecraft
, Ursula K. Le Guin
and others.
The book was first published in hardcover by William Heinemann
in September, 1906, and has been reprinted a number of times since. It was issued by the Modern Library
in an unauthorised combined edition with The Book of Wonder under the latter's title in 1918.
Dunsany had a brief preface in the original edition and added a new introduction to the 1922 edition.
The book is a series of short stories linked by Dunsany's invented pantheon
of deities who dwell in Pegāna. It was preceded by his earlier collection The Gods of Pegāna
and followed by some stories in The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
.
The book was illustrated by Dunsany's preferred artist Sidney Sime
, who provided a range of black and white plates, the originals of which are still at Dunsany Castle. These were present in the 1906 and 1922 editions, not in the unauthorised collectiions and not in most modern reproductions.
The title is thought to have been influenced by Algernon Swinburne
, who wrote the line “Time and the Gods are at strife” in his 1866 poem “Hymn to Proserpine
.”
Irish literature
For a comparatively small island, Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to world literature. Irish literature encompasses the Irish and English languages.-The beginning of writing in Irish:...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
, H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin is an American author. She has written novels, poetry, children's books, essays, and short stories, notably in fantasy and science fiction...
and others.
The book was first published in hardcover by William Heinemann
William Heinemann
William Heinemann was the founder of the Heinemann publishing house in London.He was born in 1863, in Surbiton, Surrey. In his early life he wanted to be a musician, either as a performer or a composer, but, realising that he lacked the ability to be successful in that field, he took a job with...
in September, 1906, and has been reprinted a number of times since. It was issued by the Modern Library
Modern Library
The Modern Library is a publishing company. Founded in 1917 by Albert Boni and Horace Liveright as an imprint of their publishing company Boni & Liveright, it was purchased in 1925 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer...
in an unauthorised combined edition with The Book of Wonder under the latter's title in 1918.
Dunsany had a brief preface in the original edition and added a new introduction to the 1922 edition.
The book is a series of short stories linked by Dunsany's invented pantheon
Pantheon (gods)
A pantheon is a set of all the gods of a particular polytheistic religion or mythology.Max Weber's 1922 opus, Economy and Society discusses the link between a...
of deities who dwell in Pegāna. It was preceded by his earlier collection The Gods of Pegāna
The Gods of Pegana
The Gods of Pegāna is the first book by Anglo-Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, published on a commission basis in 1905. It is considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. Le Guin...
and followed by some stories in The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories is the third book by Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, considered a major influence on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula K. Le Guin and others. It was first published in hardcover by George Allen & Sons in October, 1908, and has been...
.
The book was illustrated by Dunsany's preferred artist Sidney Sime
Sidney Sime
Sidney Sime was an English artist in the late Victorian and succeeding periods, mostly remembered for his fantastic and satirical artwork, especially his story illustrations for Irish author Lord Dunsany.-Early life:...
, who provided a range of black and white plates, the originals of which are still at Dunsany Castle. These were present in the 1906 and 1922 editions, not in the unauthorised collectiions and not in most modern reproductions.
The title is thought to have been influenced by Algernon Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He invented the roundel form, wrote several novels, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica...
, who wrote the line “Time and the Gods are at strife” in his 1866 poem “Hymn to Proserpine
Hymn to Proserpine
"Hymn to Proserpine" is a poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne, published in 1866. The poem is addressed to the goddess Proserpina, the Roman equivalent of Persephone....
.”
Contents
- "Preface"
- "Time and the Gods"
- "The Coming of the Sea"
- "A Legend of the Dawn"
- "The Vengeance of Men"
- "When the Gods Slept"
- "The King That Was Not"
- "The Cave of Kai"
- "The Sorrow of Search"
- "The Men of Yarnith"
- "For the Honour of the Gods"
- "Night and Morning"
- "Usury"
- "Mlideen"
- "The Secret of the Gods"
- "The South Wind"
- "In the Land of Time"
- "The Relenting of Sardinac"
- "The Jest of the Gods"
- "The Dreams of the Prophet"
- "The Journey of the King"