"Time and the Gods" is a collection of fantasy short stories written by the Irish author Lord Dunsany, first published in 1906. The book consists of fifteen short stories, each of which takes place in a different mythical world and explores various themes related to time, destiny, and the supernatural. The stories are set in imaginary lands, where gods and other supernatural beings interact with mortals. The book is divided into four parts, each focusing on a different aspect of time and its relation to the gods. In the first part, "The Gods of Pegana," the gods create the universe and the world of Pegana. In the second part, "Time and the Gods," the stories explore the nature of time and how it affects the lives of mortals and gods alike. Finally, in the fourth part, "A Legend of the Dawn," the stories explore the origins of the universe and the gods. Dunsany's writing is known for its poetic language and vivid imagery. His stories often involve larger-than-life characters and epic battles between good and evil. "Time and the Gods" is considered one of his most influential works and helped to establish the genre of modern fantasy literature. The book has been praised for its originality, imaginative world-building, and the timeless themes it explores.
Anglo-Irish author and dramatist Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany also known as Lord Dunsany, lived from 18 July 1878 to 25 October 1957. His fantasy book The King of Elfland's Daughter, published in 1924, is his best-known work. Lord Dunsany was a well-known member of the Plunkett family and a distant relative of several prominent Irish figures. In 1916, he separated from Sir Reginald Drax, his only sibling, for unspecified reasons that appear to be connected to his mother's will. One person's infant brother passed away. He sustained injuries from a bullet that became lodged in his skull during the Easter Rising during World War One. He was prosecuted and found guilty of court-martial contempt during the Irish War of Independence. In Shoreham, Kent, he was particularly active during the Battle of Britain. In 1919, Dunsany traveled to America for the first time to promote his writing. He had a good relationship with people like Lady Gregory, Padraic Colum, Oliver St. John Gogarty, "AE" Russell, Percy French, and W. B. Yeats. In 1957, Lord Dunsany passed away from an appendicitis attack. He was laid to rest at the Shoreham, Kent, churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul. At a memorial service in Meath's Kilmessan, "Crossing the Bar" was read.
