The King of the Golden River
core novella 1851 The King of the Golden River
Record
| First published | 1851 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novella |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.93 (2,068 ratings, collected 2026-10-07) |
| Page count | 64 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780500651858 |
Synopsis
High in the mountains of Stiria lies a valley so blessed by nature and so graced by the cataract called the Golden River that it is known as Treasure Valley. It belongs to three brothers: Hans and Schwartz, called the Black Brothers for their cruelty and greed, and twelve-year-old Gluck, who is kind and much abused by the other two. One wet winter evening, when Gluck is alone, a curious little gentleman with a dripping hat, South-West Wind, Esquire, knocks at the door and asks for shelter; the brothers drive him out, and he and all the other winds abandon the valley, which turns to dust. Forced to become goldsmiths, Hans and Schwartz melt down Gluck's golden mug, and out of the crucible steps the King of the Golden River, who sets a challenge: whoever climbs to the river's source and casts three drops of holy water into it will turn it to gold.
Where it sits
- Universe: The King of the Golden River
- Series: not part of a registered series (standalone work within its universe)
- Author: John Ruskin
Notes
- Subtitled or, The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria. Written in 1841 for the twelve-year-old Effie Gray, published in 1851 with illustrations by Richard Doyle. A public-domain work; the ISBN recorded is the 2019 Thames & Hudson edition illustrated by Quentin Blake.
Sources
← The King of the Golden River dossier · All universes
Part of the Library. Fields without an identified source are omitted, never guessed.