Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (1878 – 1957) was an Anglo-Irish writer and dramatist, published mostly as Lord Dunsany. Over 90 of his books, mainly fantasy, appeared in his lifetime; his original work and compilations have continued to appear. They include several hundred short stories, and many plays, novels, and essays.
He gained fame with his early stories and plays and was seen in the 1910s as a great writer of the English-speaking world. He is best known today for a 1924 fantasy novel, The King of Elfland’s Daughter, and for The Gods of Pegāna, where he devised a fictional pantheon and laid the grounds for the fantasy genre. Born in London to the second-oldest title (created 1439) in the Irish peerage, he was raised there and in Kent, then lived much of his life at what may be Ireland’s longest inhabited house, Dunsany Castle near Tara, though he retired to Shoreham, Kent. He worked with W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, gained an honorary doctorate from Trinity College, Dublin, was a chess and pistol-shooting champion of Ireland, and traveled and hunted. He also invented an asymmetrical version of chess called Dunsany’s chess. He died in Dublin of appendicitis.
Dunsany was a prolific writer of short stories, novels, plays, poetry, essays and autobiography. He published over 90 books in his lifetime, not including individual plays. Books have continued to appear, with more than 120 having issued by 2017. Dunsany’s works have been published in many languages.
Dunsany’s most notable fantasy short stories appeared in collections from 1905 to 1919, before fantasy had been recognised as a distinct genre. He paid for the publication of the first collection, The Gods of Pegāna, earning a commission on sales. This he never again had to do.
The stories in his first two books, and perhaps the beginning of his third, were set in an invented world, Pegāna, with its own gods, history and geography. Starting with this, Dunsany’s name is linked to that of Sidney Sime, his chosen artist, who illustrated much of his work, notably up to 1922.
Lord Dunsany received an honorary doctorate, D.Litt., from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1940. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Irish PEN, but lost to Bertrand Russell.
Lord Dunsany – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/printing identification points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | ALEXANDER & THREE SMALL PLAYS | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1925] | First published October 1925 on © page. 250 numbered copies only. |
| 1925 | THE AMUSEMENTS OF KHAN KHARUDA | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1925] | Wrappers. First printed separately, November 1925 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier the same month in ALEXANDER & THREE SMALL PLAYS. |
| 1970 | AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD | New York: Ballantine Books, [1970] | Wrappers. First Edition: March, 1970 on © page. Ballantine Books 01879-6-095 (95c). All material reprinted from earlier books. |
| 1972 | BEYOND THE FIELDS WE KNOW | New York: Ballantine Books, [1972 ] | Wrappers. First Printing: May. 1972 on © page. Ballantine Books Adult Fantasy 02599-7-125 ($1.25). AH material reprinted from earlier books. |
| 1927 | THE BLESSING OF PAN | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1927] | First published September 1927 on © page. |
| 1912 | THE BOOK OF WONDER | London: William Heinemann, 1912 | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1916 | CARCASS ONE | Boston: John W. Luce & Company, n.d. [1916?] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. LIMITED EDITION/REPRINTED FOR/MISS VIRGINIA BERRY on title page. Reprint. Collected earlier in A DREAMER'S TALES. |
| 1926 | THE CHARWOMAN'S SHADOW | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1926] | First published March 1926 on © page. |
| CHEEZO | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR. | |
| 1922 | THE CHRONICLES OF RODRIGUEZ | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1922] | Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1923 | THE COMPROMISE OF THE KING OF THE GOLDEN ISLES | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. [but 1923] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR. ALSO: New York: Grolier Club, 1924. Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. 300 numbered copies. First separate hardcover edition. |
| 1933 | THE CURSE OF THE WISE WOMAN | London: William Heinemann Ltd. [1933] | First published 1933 on © page. |
| 1922 | DON RODRIGUEZ. CHRONICLES OF SHADOW VALLEY | New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1922 | No statement of printing on © page. Issued earlier in Great Britain as THE CHRONICLES OF RODRIGUEZ. |
| 1910 | A DREAMER'S TALES | London: George Allen & Sons, 1910 | Three bindings, priority as listed:
|
| 1925 | THE EVIL KETTLE | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. [1925] | Wrappers. First printed separately, November 1925 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in ALEXANDER & THREE SMALL PLAYS. |
| FAME AND THE POET | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR. | |
| 1915 | FIFTY-ONE TALES | London: Elkin Mathews, MCMXV | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. Reissued as THE FOOD OF DEATH: FIFTY-ONE TALES.. |
| 1914 | FIVE PLAYS | London: Grant Richards, MDCCCCXIV | No statement of printing on © page. |
| THE FLIGHT OF THE QUEEN | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR. | |
| 1974 | THE FOOD OF DEATH: FIFTY-ONE TALES | Hollywood, Calif.: Newcastle Publishing Company, Inc., 1974 | Wrappers. First printing: September, 1974 on © page. Reprint of FIFTY-ONE TALES. |
| 1910 | THE FORTRESS UNVANQUISHABLE, SAVE FOR SACNOTH | Sheffield: The School of Art Press, 1910 | Blue boards with cloth shelf back. Limited to 30 numbered copies. Reprint. Collected earlier in THE SWORD OF WELLERAN AND OTHER STORIES. |
| 1947 | THE FOURTH BOOK OF JORKENS | London, New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Cape Town: Jarrolds Pub. (London) Limited, [1947] | Two bindings, no priority established, but probably as listed: (A) Black cloth, spine lettered in gold; (B) Pale blue-green cloth, spine lettered in black. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1905 | GODS, MEN AND GHOSTS | New York: Dover Publications. Inc., [1972] | Wrappers....first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 1972 ... on © page. All material reprinted from earlier books. |
| 1905 | THE GODS OF PEGANA | London: Elkin Mathews, 1905 | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. |
| A GOOD BARGAIN | London A New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR. | |
| 1944 | GUERRILLA | London :: Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd, [1944] | First published 1944 on © page. |
| 1952 | HIS FELLOW MEN | London New York Melbourne Sydney Cape Town: Jarrolds Pub. (London) Ltd, [1952] | First published 1952 on © page. |
| 1921 | IF: A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS | London; G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1921] | Two issues, no priority: (A) Large paper issue (not seen); (B) Cloth. Trade issue. First Published September, 1921 on © page. |
| 1923 | IF SHAKESPEARE LIVED TODAY | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, n.d. [1923?] | Wrappers. Two printings, no priority established:
|
| 1954 | JORKENS BORROWS ANOTHER WHISKEY | London; Michael Joseph, [1954] | First published ... 1954 on © page. |
| 1940 | JORKENS HAS A LARGE WHISKEY | London; Putnam, [1940] | First published September 1940 on © page. |
| 1934 | JORKENS REMEMBERS AFRICA | New York Toronto: Longmans Green & Co., 1934 | First edition so stated on © page. Issued later in Great Britain as MR. JORKENS REMEMBERS AFRICA. |
| 1928 | THE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1928] | Wrappers....first /printed separately September 1928 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in SEVEN MODERN COMEDIES. |
| 1924 | THE KING OFELFLAND'S DAUGHTER | London A New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1924] | Cloth with paper vellum shelf back, leather label on spine. First printed May 1924 on © page. 250 numbered copies signed by Dunsany and illustrator Sidney H. Sime. |
| 1976 | THE LAST BOOK OF WONDER | Boston; Joan W. Luce A Company, [1976] | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. Reprint. Issued earlier in Great Britain as TALES OF WONDER. |
| 1951 | THE LAST REVOLUTION | London New York Melbourne Sydney Cape Town: Jarrolds Pub. (London) Ltd, [1951] | First published-1957 on © page. |
| 1922 | THE LAUGHTER OF THE GODS | London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, Ltd., [1922] | Wrappers. First published 1918 /Reprinted 1922 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN. Note: This 1922 printing is apparently the first separate edition. |
| 1952 | THE LITTLE TALES OF SMETHERS | London New York Melbourne Sydney Capetown: Jarrolds Pub. (London) Ltd, [1952] | Two bindings, priority as listed: (A) Black cloth, spine lettered in gold; (B) Green boards, spine lettered in black. First published 1952 on © page. |
| 1933 | LORD ADRIAN: A PLAY IN THREE ACTS | Waltham Saint Lawrence in Berkshire: Printed and made in Great Britain by the Golden Cockerel Press, [1933] | Boards with leather shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. 325 numbered copies printed. |
| 1949 | THE MAN WHO ATE THE PHOENIX | London New York Melbourne Sydney Cape Town: Jarrolds Pub. (London) Ltd., [1949] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1935 | MR. FAITHFUL: A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS | New York Los Angeles: Samuel French/London: Samuel French Ltd, 1935 | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1934 | MR. JORKENS REMEMBERS AFRICA | London & Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd., [1934] | First published 1934 on © page. Issued earlier in the U.S. as JORKENS REMEMBERS AFRICA. |
| 1936 | MY TALKS WITH DEAN SPANLEY | London :: Toronto.: William Heinemann Ltd, [1936] | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1916 | A NIGHT AT AN INN A PLAY IN ONE ACT | New York: The Sunwise Turn, Inc., 1916 | Wrappers. 1st Printing on © page. Neighborhood Playhouse Plays No. I. Later collected in PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN. |
| 1950 | THE OLD FOLK OF THE CENTURIES | London: Elkin Mathews & Marrot, [1950] | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. 900 numbered copies, the first 100 signed by the author, the last 50 for presentation. |
| 1925 | THE OLD KING'S TALE | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1925] | Wrappers. First printed separately, November 1925 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in ALEXANDER & THREE SMALL PLAYS. |
| 1974 | OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY | New York: Ballantine Books, [1974] | Wrappers. First Printing: April, 1974 on © page. Ballantine 23886 ($1.25). Reprint collection. All material collected from earlier books. |
| 1937 | PLAYS FOR EARTH AND AIR | London :: Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd, [1937] | First published 1937 oh © page. |
| 1917 | PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN | Dublin: The Talbot Press, Limited, 1917 | Boards with cloth shelf back. Three issues, priority as listed:
|
| 1922 | PLAYS OF NEAR & FAR | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1922] | First printed December, 1922 on © page. 500 copies printed. ALSO: New York and London: G. P. Putnam'sSons, 1923. Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. Adds author's "Preface to American Edition." |
| 1922 | THE QUEEN'S ENEMIES | London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, Ltd., [1922] | Wrappers. First published 1918/Reprinted 1922 on © page. Reprint. Collected earlier in PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN. Note: This 1922 printing is apparently the first separate edition. |
| 1936 | RORY AND BRAN | London:: Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd. [1936] | First published 1936 on © page. |
| 1912 | SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF LORD DUNSANY | Churchtown Dundrum: The Cuala Press, MCMXII | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing. 250 copies printed. |
| 1925 | SEVEN MODERN COMEDIES | London New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1925] | First published September 1928 on © page. 250 numbered copies. |
| 1939 | THE STORY OF MONA SHEEHY | London :: Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd, [1939] | First published 1939 on © page. |
| 1950 | THE STRANGE JOURNEYS OF COLONEL POLDERS | London New York Melbourne Sydney Cape Town: Jarrolds Pub. London Limited, [1950] | First published 1950 on © page. |
| 1913 | THE SWORD OF WELLER AN AND OTHER STORIES | London: George Allen & Sons, mcmviii | No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1954 | THE SWORD OF WELLERAN AND OTHER TALES OF ENCHANTMENT | New York: The Devin-Adair Company, 1954 | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. All stories reprinted from earlier books. |
| 1979 | TALES OF THREE HEMISPHERES | London: T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., 1916 | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. Note: The British issue consisted of the sheets of the U.S. printing with a cancel title leaf imprinted London; T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd., 1920 on recto. Printed in U.S.A. is rubber-stamped below copyright notice on verso. |
| 1918 | TALES OF WAR | Dublin; The Talbot Press Ltd. London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd, [1918] | Boards with cloth shelf back. First published in 1918 on © page. |
| 1916 | TALES OF WONDER | London; Elkin Mathews, MCMXVI | Boards with cloth shelf back. First Published... October, 1916 on © page. Issued later in the U .S. as THE LAST BOOK OF WONDER. |
| 1917 | THE TENTS OFTHE ARABS | N.p., n.d. [London, 1917?] | Wrappers. No statement of printing. Cover title. Collected in PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN. Note: British Library assigns a tentative printing date of 1917. Possibly printed prior to collection in PLAYS OF GODS AND MEN. |
| 1906 | TIME AND THE GODS | London: William Heinemann, 1906 | Two bindings, priority as listed:
|
| 1931 | THE TRAVEL TALES OF MR. JOSEPH JORKENS | London & New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, [1931] | First published April 193! on © page. |
| 1919 | UNHAPPY FAR-OFF THINGS | London: Elkin Mathews, MCMXIX | Boards with cloth shelf back. No statement of printing on © page. |
| 1935 | UP IN THE HILLS | London: Toronto: William Heinemann Ltd, [1935] | First published 1935 on © page. |
| 1925 | WHY THE MILKMAN SHUDDERS WHEN HE PERCEIVES THE DAWN | Fostoria, Ohio: Privately printed, 1925 | Wrappers. Put into type and printed by Edwin U hler Sowers, 2nd, in December 1925 ...100 copies printed. Reprint. Collected earlier in THE LAST BOOK OF WONDER. |
Lord Dunsany – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of Dunsany’s works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- L. W. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction and Selected Nonfiction.
