fantasy links
Fantasy in the 19th century
Stories about fantasy has always been around, fairy tales, myths, the bible, and folklore all of those contains examples on what fantasy is about.Fantasy as we see it today, started to form as its own genre in the middle/end of the 19th century.
The "father of fantasy" is in my opinion George MacDonald. In 1858 he wrote a fantastic story without adding lectures and allegories which earlier similar stories had done, the story was called "Phantastes, A Faerie Romance for Men and Women", (1858). MacDonald's stories takes place in a world that was closer to a "secondary world" than settings other authors had created.
MacDonald was also acquainted with one of the most important among the earlier fantasy writers: William Morris.
William Morris (1834-1896) was planning to become a priest but abandoned those plans after visiting France and gained interest in arts. He's mostly known as a designer but since his days at school he had always been interested in literature and was even offered a place as poet at the court, but refused because of his political conviction.
Related books at Amazon UK:
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy John Clute, John Grant (1996) St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers Phantastes: A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald
Related books at Amazon USA:
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy John Clute, John Grant (1996) St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers Phantastes: A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald
Related books at Amazon Canada:
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy John Clute, John Grant (1996) St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers Phantastes: A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald
Related books at Amazon Deutschland:
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy John Clute, John Grant (1996) St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers Phantastes: A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald