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The Wandering Unicorn
The Wandering Unicorn
Author: Manuel Mujica Lainez
The beautiful fairy Melusine, bewitched by an evil spell, languishes alone in her tower for centuries until she meets, falls in love with a handsome young man, and follows him as he journeys across medieval Europe. With a forward by Jorge Luis Borges. Translated by Mary Fitton.
ISBN-13: 9780425083864
ISBN-10: 0425083861
Publication Date: 12/1/1985
Pages: 320
Edition: Reprint
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 5

4.1 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: Berkley
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

althea avatar reviewed The Wandering Unicorn on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I'd seen this book highly recommended for fans of Tolkien, so I picked
it up. I'm not sure where that recommendation came from, because I
didn't see any similarity in the writing style or themes. The writing
style was particularly stilted; perhaps because it was translated from
the Spanish, but I didn't find it particularly enjoyable.

Inspired by mythology, but without a 'mythic' feel to the story, the
book briefly outlines the story of the fairy Melusine,who took human
form to love a man, but was cursed to be rejected when her lover came
upon her in her true, monstrous form, in her bath. The largest part
of the book follows the incorporeal spirit of Melusine as she follows
around a young knight in the Crusades, her descendant, that she is
obsessed with. Although at one point she tries to take human form to
be with him (it doesn't work out, as she ends up in a male body, and
the knight isn't gay), this places the bulk of the narrative at a
remove, actions being described by an intangible observer, which is
distancing.
Read All 4 Book Reviews of "The Wandering Unicorn"


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