
Elfindom is an aristocratic society, jealous of its privileges. The ruling classes engage in such pursuits as patronizing the arts or hunting with the Royal Pack of Werewolves, while the lower orders take pleasure in conducting brutal raiding parties into the world to torment mortals.The Kingdoms of Elfin are more diverse and widely scattered than is often thought; from the Welsh Elfins who, though constitutionally incapable of faith, remove mountains, and the elegant and witty French Court of Brocéliande where castration almost becomes a vogue, to the Kingdom of Zuy in the Low Countries, trafficking suppositories and religious pictures.Sylvia Townsend Warner's richly exuberant imagination combined with the calm precision of her language conjures up a sublunary realm that is entirely convincing.
The aristocratic society of Elfindom maintains its rigid, detached existence through the exploitation of mortals and the pursuit of aesthetic and cruel diversions. Protagonists within these interconnected tales navigate a world defined by cold indifference and supernatural privilege. The narrative framework utilizes a series of vignettes to explore various elfin kingdoms, each governed by unique social codes and moral vacuums. These characters face the logical constraints of their own immortality and lack of empathy, which often leads to friction with the mortal world they view as mere sport or resource. The prose maintains a detached, observational tone that emphasizes the alien nature of the elfin inhabitants.
Readers and critics frequently note the author's ability to balance whimsical fantasy elements with a biting, cynical wit. Discussion often centers on the contrast between the elegant, detached prose and the brutal, often callous actions of the elfin characters. Many highlight the effectiveness of the world-building, which avoids traditional tropes in favor of a more sociological approach to fairy lore. The collection is often praised for its stylistic consistency and the way it subverts expectations of the fantasy genre. Readers who appreciate dark humor and sophisticated, understated storytelling find this work particularly engaging.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
1979-01-01
Publisher:
Penguin
ISBN-10:
0140048138
ISBN-13:
9780140048131
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