The dryad

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76442

Title

The dryad

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the mystical Wonder-Wood of ancient Greece, Simon of Rouen, a weary soldier of fortune, encounters Argathona, an immortal dryad bound by a spell. As Simon navigates a landscape of Greek gods and human folly, he witnesses the tragic enchantment of Prince Rainouart and the arrival of the Duchess of Thebes. A tale blending mythic wonder with chivalric romance, this novel explores themes of mortality, love, and the enduring power of faith.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in Greece during the transition from the thirteenth to the fourteenth century, Justin H. McCarthy's *The Dryad* weaves a tale of chivalry, enchantment, and spiritual redemption. The narrative follows Simon of Rouen, a cynical and disgraced French soldier of fortune, who takes a shortcut through the haunted Wonder-Wood near Athens. There, he encounters Argathona, a dryad who claims divine lineage and immortality. Having lived since the departure of the ancient gods, she possesses supernatural strength, effortlessly tossing Simon aside when he attempts to assault her. She warns him that while mortals age and die, she will endure through the changing seasons forever. Meanwhile, Prince Rainouart of Athens has been bewitched by the sorcery of the Duchess of Thebes, Esclaramonde. The enchantment has blinded him and clouded his reason, causing him to lose his sight and his capacity for true love. Argathona, who has defeated Rainouart in a tournament, seeks to break his spell. She devises a test for the prince: if Esclaramonde offers him wine, he must refuse and feign sleep. This act of resistance is designed to awaken his dormant memories of his true love and restore his free will. Simon aids Argathona in a chaotic escape, retrieving stolen horses and helping the group flee the forest. Upon reaching a hermit's shrine, Argathona faces a pivotal choice. She renounces her immortality, choosing instead to embrace mortality and human faith. Baptized by the anchorite, she sheds her divine status to become a mortal woman of eighteen. Freed from the influence of the old gods, she reunites with Rainouart, who has regained his sight and his will. The novel concludes with the couple's marriage and their departure with Simon, leaving the forest's mysteries behind for a life grounded in human love and Christian faith. The story contrasts the cold, eternal existence of the ancient pantheon with the warmth and meaning of mortal life, suggesting that true fulfillment is found not in endless survival, but in the capacity to love and the freedom to choose.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mythology