# The Book of Wonder — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany.

- [Acknowledgments](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/acknowledgments.md): The author thanks the editors of The Sketch and The Saturday Review for permission to reprint the tales in this collection, noting that some were abbreviated for publication and are now presented in full.
- [The Book of Wonder](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-book-of-wonder.md): A collection of fantastical adventures set at the edge of the world, introducing various characters and their quests in a mythic, wonder-filled landscape.
- [The Bride of the Man-Horse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-bride-of-the-man-horse.md): On his 250th birthday, the centaur Shepperalk leaves his mother's cavern in the Athraminaurian mountains, taking a golden amulet and the silver horn of the centaurs. He gallops across the mundane plain, reveling in freed
- [Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweller](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/distressing-tale-of-thangobrind-the-jeweller.md): Thangobrind, a renowned thief-jeweller, accepts a Merchant Prince's quest to steal the Dead Man's Diamond from the spider-idol Hlo-hlo. He successfully drugs the priests and steals the gem, but Hlo-hlo follows him. In a 
- [The House of the Sphinx](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-house-of-the-sphinx.md): The narrator arrives at the House of the Sphinx seeking shelter from a dark forest. The Sphinx and her attendants are in a state of dread following a mysterious 'deed,' and they fear the arrival of an 'arch-inquisitor of
- [Probable Adventure of the Three Literary Men](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/probable-adventure-of-the-three-literary-men.md): Three thieves—Slith, Sippy, and Slorg—are sent by the nomadic tribe of Heth to steal the golden box containing priceless poems from the Owner of the Box, who lives in a rocky house beside the crack in the World. They nav
- [The Injudicious Prayers of Pombo the Idolater](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-injudicious-prayers-of-pombo-the-idolater.md): Pombo, an idolater in London, prays to many gods for a simple but necessary request, but is refused due to a breach of divine etiquette. After smashing his own idols in frustration, he consults an arch-idolater who direc
- [The Loot of Bombasharna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-loot-of-bombasharna.md): Captain Shard, a notorious pirate, decides to retire with his crew to a secret floating island he discovered years ago. Before settling, they sack the coastal city of Bombasharna, where Shard captures the Queen of the So
- [Miss Cubbidge and the Dragon of Romance](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/miss-cubbidge-and-the-dragon-of-romance.md): On her eighteenth birthday, Miss Cubbidge of Prince of Wales' Square is abducted from her balcony by a golden dragon and carried away to the eternal, mystical lands of Romance by the sea. There she is kept not by chains 
- [The Quest of the Queen's Tears](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-quest-of-the-queen-s-tears.md): Queen Sylvia of the Woods sets a unique quest for her suitors: whoever can move her to tears will win her hand. Ackronnion, a king in disguise, devises a plan to obtain the tears of the Gladsome Beast, a joyful creature 
- [The Hoard of the Gibbelins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-hoard-of-the-gibbelins.md): Alderic, a knight driven by avarice, devises a cunning plan to rob the Gibbelins of their vast treasure. Instead of following the traditional advice of previous failed burglars, he tames a dragon, flies over the Unpassab
- [How Nuth Would Have Practised His Art Upon the Gnoles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/how-nuth-would-have-practised-his-art-upon-the-gnoles.md): Mr. Nuth, a master burglar, takes on an apprentice named Tommy Tonker. After a successful heist at Lord Castlenorman's residence, Nuth plans an audacious burglary of the gnoles' secret house to steal their emeralds. Desp
- [How One Came, as Was Foretold, to the City of Never](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/how-one-came-as-was-foretold-to-the-city-of-never.md): The chapter recounts the prophecy and journey of a destined man who, using a magic halter given by an old woman, captures a hippogriff at dawn and rides to the legendary City of Never, a twilight city perched on the clif
- [The Coronation of Mr. Thomas Shap](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-coronation-of-mr-thomas-shap.md): Mr. Thomas Shap, a businessman, begins to escape his mundane life by imagining a fantastical Eastern city called Larkar, where he becomes king. His imagination grows increasingly vivid and consuming, leading him to negle
- [Chu-bu and Sheemish](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/chu-bu-and-sheemish.md): The chapter tells the story of two idols, Chu-bu and Sheemish, placed in the same temple. Chu-bu, an older idol, becomes jealous when Sheemish is introduced and worshipped alongside him. Their rivalry escalates into a co
- [The Wonderful Window](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-wonderful-window.md): Mr. Sladden, a dreamy young man working at Messrs. Mergin and Chater, buys a magical window from an old man in the street. The window reveals a distant medieval city with golden dragon banners. He becomes obsessed with t
- [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/epilogue.md): The narrator bids farewell to readers, hinting at future tales of gnomes robbing fairies, the fairies' vengeance, the King of Ool's insult to troubadours, and the troubadours' revenge through song, before returning to th
- [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations.md): A listing of the illustrations that appear throughout the book, providing a visual index of key scenes and characters.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters