The World's Desire

'The World's Desire' is a fantasy novel written by H. Rider Haggard and Andrew Lang. The book is the story of the hero Odysseus, mainly referred to as "the Wanderer" for the bulk of the novel. Odysseus returns home to Ithaca after his second, unsung journey. He is hoping to find a "home at peace, wife dear and true and his son worthy of him". Unfortunately, he does not find any of the three, instead his home is ravaged by a plague and his wife Penelope has been slain. As he grieves, he is visited by an old flame, Helen of Troy, for whom the novel is named. Helen leads him to equip himself with the Bow of Eurytus and embark on his last journey. This is an exhausting journey in which he encounters a Pharaoh who is wed to a murderess beauty, a holy and helpful priest, and his own fate.

Andrew Lang (1844–1912) was a prolific Scottish writer and folklorist, renowned for his contribution to literature in the field of fairy tales and anthropology. A man of diverse interests and talents, he earned his reputation through the publication of his Fairy Books, a series which gathered fairy tales from all over the world. 'The Blue Fairy Book' (1889), being the first in the series, set the stage for the volumes that followed, charming readers with stories of enchantment and fantasy. Apart from fairy tales, Lang's literary prowess extended to novels, poetry, and historical texts. 'The World's Desire' (1890), co-written with H. Rider Haggard, stands as an exemplary work that combines Lang's fascination with the ancient world with elements of adventure and romance. His writing style often weaved together a rich tapestry of mythical allusions and scholarly erudition, while maintaining an engaging narrative accessible to a broad audience. Lang's extensive contributions have left an indelible mark on the literary world and continue to influence both scholars and enthusiasts of the mythic and the folkloric.