Attributed to Mary Diana Dods; formerly attributed to George Henry Borrow.

Release date is 2021-08-22

The prediction -- The yellow dwarf -- Der freischütz, from the German of A. Apel -- The fortunes of De la Pole -- The lord of the Maelstrom -- Notes to The lord of the Maelstrom -- The spectre barber [by J.K.A. Musäus, translated by S.E. Utterson] -- The sleeping friar; or the stone of Father Cuddy [by T.C. Croker].

Transcribed from the 1867 Milner and Sowerby edition by David Price. Many thanks to the Bodleian Library for making their copy available

"Tales of the Wild and the Wonderful" by Mary Diana Dods is a collection of whimsical and fanciful stories written during the mid-19th century. The tales are steeped in fairy-tale elements, featuring themes of magical creatures, prophecies, and the complexities of human emotions and relationships, often with a dark twist. The opening story introduces the character of Ruth Tudor, who grapples with a foreboding prophecy about her fate. The beginning of the work sets the stage in a rural Welsh village, focusing on the mysterious figure of Rhys Meredith, a man with the ability to predict the future. As he asserts his influence through ominous predictions, he becomes both a source of fear and intrigue among the villagers. The narrative quickly pivots to Ruth, a beautiful and proud maiden who becomes entangled in a psychological battle with Rhys when he foretells that she is destined to commit a murder. Her struggle against this dark prophecy, which becomes intertwined with her destiny and relationships, unfolds against a backdrop of ominous fate and the powerful bond between love and fear. Themes of isolation, societal judgment, and self-fulfilling prophecies are woven throughout the beginning, setting a haunting tone for the tales to follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified