The House of the Wolfings
Morris built this early invented-world romance out of Germanic legend and his own love of the heroic past. The Wolfings and their kindred, a free tribal people of the northern forests, face the disciplined legions of Rome pushing into their land. Their war leader Thiodolf carries a dwarf-made mail-shirt given him by his supernatural lover, Wood-Sun, not knowing that its protection will betray his folk in the hour of battle. Written in a deliberately archaic mix of prose and verse, the tale weaves fate, kinship, and sacrifice around the defense of a homeland. It stands among the first modern fantasies set wholly in an imagined world, and it left its mark on Tolkien. Free to read here as a PDF and EPUB edition.
About the Author
William Morris (1834-1896) was an English poet, designer, and socialist whose wallpapers and textiles helped define the Arts and Crafts movement. Late in life he turned to prose romances set in imagined lands, and those books are now regarded as foundations of modern fantasy literature.
See all books by William Morris →
Listen to The House of the Wolfings Audiobook Free
Listen to The House of the Wolfings by William Morris free online. The full audiobook (8 hr 18 min, 31 chapters, read by volunteer narrators) streams free on this page.
The House of the Wolfings (1889) is a public domain work.
| # | Chapter | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01 - The Dwellings of Mid-Mark | 15:51 | |
| 2 | 02 - The Flitting of the War-Arrow | 14:32 | |
| 3 | 03 - Thiodolf Talketh with the Wood-Sun | 27:27 | |
| 4 | 04 - The House Fareth to the War | 16:13 | |
| 5 | 05 - Concerning the Hall-Sun | 20:43 | |
| 6 | 06 - They Talk on the Way to the Folk-Thing | 15:33 | |
| 7 | 07 - They Gather to the Folk-Mote | 16:02 | |
| 8 | 08 - The Folk-Mote of the Markmen | 29:03 | |
| 9 | 09 - The Ancient Man of the Daylings | 7:10 | |
| 10 | 10 - That Carline Cometh to the Roof of the Wolfings | 7:26 | |
| 11 | 11 - The Hall-Sun Speaketh | 7:42 | |
| 12 | 12 - Tidings of the Battle in Mirkwood | 15:34 | |
| 13 | 13 - The Hall-Sun Saith Another Word | 7:28 | |
| 14 | 14 - The Hall-Sun is Careful Concerning the Passes of the Wood | 11:29 | |
| 15 | 15 - They Hear Tell of the Battle on the Ridge | 22:04 | |
| 16 | 16 - How the Dwarf-wrought Hauberk was Brought Away from the Hall of the Daylings | 8:03 | |
| 17 | 17 - The Wood-Sun Speaketh with Thiodolf | 21:09 | |
| 18 | 18 - Tidings Brought to the Wain-Burg | 14:29 | |
| 19 | 19 - Those Messengers Come to Thiodolf | 17:28 | |
| 20 | 20 - Otter and his Folk Come into Mid-Mark | 22:29 | |
| 21 | 21 - They Bicker About the Ford | 13:55 | |
| 22 | 22 - Otter Falls on Against his Will | 17:58 | |
| 23 | 23 - Thiodolf Meeteth the Romans in the Wolfing Meadow | 13:23 | |
| 24 | 24 - The Goths are Overthrown by the Romans | 10:13 | |
| 25 | 25 - The Host of the Markmen Cometh into the Wild-Wood | 19:42 | |
| 26 | 26 - Thiodolf Talketh with the Wood-Sun | 21:55 | |
| 27 | 27 - They Wend to the Morning Battle | 9:37 | |
| 28 | 28 - Of the Storm of Dawning | 17:55 | |
| 29 | 29 - Of Thiodolf's Storm | 24:59 | |
| 30 | 30 - Thiodolf is Borne out of the Hall and Otter is Laid Beside Him | 15:41 | |
| 31 | 31 - Old Asmund Speaketh over the War-Dukes: The Dead are Laid in Mound | 14:21 |
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