Three Hearts and Three Lions
core novel 1961 Three Hearts and Three Lions
Record
| First published | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.83 (5,680 ratings, collected 2026-08-26) |
| Page count | 177 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780671721862 |
Synopsis
Three Hearts and Three Lions follows Holger Carlsen, a Danish engineer fighting with the resistance during the Second World War, who is struck unconscious in battle and wakes on a parallel medieval Earth. There, everyone seems to expect him, addressing him as a knight they call Holger Danske, and he finds himself in possession of unfamiliar armor, a horse, and a dwarf companion who treats him as an old ally. Disoriented but drawn into events already in motion, Holger learns that this world is the setting for an ongoing struggle between the cosmic forces of Law and Chaos, with human kingdoms, fairy folk, and monstrous creatures aligned on either side. As he travels through forests haunted by witches, giants, and enchantments, Holger tries to piece together who he was meant to be in this world and what role he is expected to play in its unfolding conflict.
Where it sits
- Universe: Three Hearts and Three Lions
- Series: not part of a registered series (standalone work within its universe)
- Author: Poul Anderson
Notes
- Expanded from a 1953 magazine novella into the full novel; this catalogue follows the 1961 book publication as the first edition.
Sources
- Poul Anderson bibliography (specialised genre-fiction encyclopedia)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Hearts_and_Three_Lions
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