Fifty-One Tales

audiobook

Fifty-One Tales

by Lord Dunsany

EN·~1 hours·53 chapters

Chapters

53 total

Produced by Anne Reshnyk, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks

0:06

FIFTY-ONE TALES

0:02

THE ASSIGNATION

1:08

CHARON

1:55

THE DEATH OF PAN

1:01

THE SPHINX AT GIZEH

2:04

THE HEN

2:24

WIND AND FOG

1:27

THE RAFT-BUILDERS

1:27

THE WORKMAN

1:30

Description

A kaleidoscopic anthology of short, dream‑like tales, this book invites listeners into a world where ancient gods wander modern streets and ordinary moments become portals to the uncanny. The prose is lyrical yet conversational, weaving humor, melancholy, and a touch of the absurd into each vignette. Each story feels like a brief, vivid tableau that lingers long after the final line.

One tale follows a poet who endlessly crowns the fickle personification of Fame with garlands of song, only to watch them wither and be mocked, leading to a bitter promise that spans centuries. Another introduces the weary ferryman Charon, who, after countless silent crossings, finally encounters a solitary soul that moves him in an unexpected way. A third story revives the god Pan, whose presumed death turns into sudden, joyous music as Arcadian maidens discover his hidden vitality. Across the collection, familiar mythic figures appear in surprising settings, offering reflections on ambition, mortality, and the timeless dance between the mundane and the miraculous.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (85K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2005-04-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Lord Dunsany

Lord Dunsany

1878–1957

A pioneer of modern fantasy, this Anglo-Irish writer opened doors to dreamlike kingdoms, strange gods, and quietly unsettling adventures. His stories and plays helped shape the imaginative tradition later followed by writers such as H. P. Lovecraft and J. R. R. Tolkien.

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