The World's Desire

audiobook

The World's Desire

by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard, Andrew Lang

EN·~7 hours·29 chapters

Chapters

29 total

PREFACE

3:47

THE WORLD’S DESIRE

1:13

CHAPTER I. THE SILENT ISLE

15:28

CHAPTER II. THE VISION OF THE WORLD’S DESIRE

13:00

CHAPTER III. THE SLAYING OF THE SIDONIANS

20:43

CHAPTER IV. THE BLOOD-RED SEA

13:59

CHAPTER V. MERIAMUN THE QUEEN

11:28

CHAPTER VI. THE STORY OF MERIAMUN

17:58

CHAPTER VII. THE QUEEN’S VISION

12:59

CHAPTER VIII. THE KA, THE BAI, AND THE KHOU

23:16

Description

A sweeping romance that stitches together the mythic worlds of Greece, Egypt and the far‑north, this tale imagines a age when heroes and deities moved across the same seas. Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries, it re‑creates a twilight era where Helen—described as the “World’s Desire”—possesses a shape‑shifting beauty that echoes legends from Homer to medieval folklore. The narrative blends scholarly intrigue with lyrical fantasy, inviting listeners to wander through ancient courts, burial chambers and storm‑tossed fjords, all while the echo of a blood‑red ruby and a mysterious “Star‑stone” glimmers in the background.

The story opens as a lone vessel slips through dusk‑lit waters toward a silent isle, its crew haunted by whispered prophecies of a fairy queen whose song promises both wonder and ruin. As the ship draws near, the atmosphere thickens with the scent of incense and the promise of a quest that will test love, loyalty, and the very limits of myth. Listeners are drawn into the first act’s haunting blend of adventure and yearning, setting the stage for a journey that bridges continents and centuries.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~7 hours (446K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2006-04-04

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the authors

H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard

1856–1925

Best known for classic adventure tales like King Solomon’s Mines and She, this English novelist helped shape the lost-world story and filled his fiction with danger, mystery, and sweeping journeys. His years in southern Africa deeply influenced the settings and atmosphere of many of his most famous books.

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Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang

1844–1912

Best known for gathering fairy tales into the beloved "color" Fairy Books, this Scottish writer also moved easily between poetry, criticism, translation, and folklore. His work helped bring stories from many traditions to a wide English-speaking audience.

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