Publisher's Synopsis
The King of the Golden River, also known as The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria, is a novella written by John Ruskin and first published in 1859. The story follows the lives of three brothers, Hans, Schwartz, and Gluck, who live in a valley in Stiria, a region in Austria. The brothers are poor, but they own a small piece of land that they farm in order to survive.One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at their door and asks for shelter from the rain. The brothers refuse to let him in, except for Gluck, who offers him a meal and a place to stay. As a reward for his kindness, the stranger tells Gluck the secret of the King of the Golden River, a magical river that can turn anything it touches into gold.The stranger gives Gluck a warning, however, that the river is only accessible to the kind-hearted, and anyone who is not pure of heart will be turned to stone. Hans and Schwartz, the older brothers, become greedy and try to find the river themselves, but they are turned to stone. Gluck, the youngest and purest of heart, sets out on a quest to find the King of the Golden River and save his brothers.Along the way, Gluck meets a series of helpful characters, including a talking eagle and a water nymph, who guide him on his journey. He eventually reaches the King of the Golden River and is rewarded for his kindness and purity of heart.The King of the Golden River is a classic fairy tale that explores themes of greed, kindness, and the importance of being true to oneself. Ruskin's writing is rich in detail and vivid imagery, making the story a timeless classic that is still enjoyed by readers of all ages.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
