Publisher's Synopsis
The Well at the World's End is a high fantasy novel by the British artist, poet, and author William Morris. It was first published in 1896, the year of his death, and has been reprinted a number of times since. William Morris' medieval romances derive largely from Thomas Malory and Geoffrey Chaucer. Using elements of the medieval tales, Morris tells the story of Peter, King of Upmeads, and his four sons, Blaise, Hugh, Gregory, and Ralph. These four sons decide one day that they would like to explore the world, so their father gives them permission. From that point on, the plot centers on the youngest son, Ralph. The novel was praised by H. G. Wells, and had a significant influence on many notable fantasy later worlds. L. Frank Baum's Oz, C. S. Lewis' Narnia, and J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, descend from the lands created in this novel.
