The Story

Meet Sir Huon of Bordeaux, a knight in Charlemagne's court who makes a very big mistake. In a moment of anger, he kills the emperor's son. As punishment, Charlemagne sends him on a mission that seems designed to get him killed: travel to Baghdad, kill the man sitting next to the caliph, steal his beard and four teeth, and then... marry the caliph's daughter. Yeah, good luck with that.

Just as Huon is about to give up hope, he meets the fairy king Oberon. Oberon has a magical horn and a heart of gold (well, fairy gold). He decides to help Huon, but only if the knight promises to be perfectly faithful to his own true love, Rezia. The story follows their journey, filled with sorcerers, shipwrecks, and temptations that constantly test Huon's promise. Will he succeed, or will his own flaws be his downfall?

Why You Should Read It

Don't let the '18th-century epic poem' label scare you. Wieland's writing has a playful, almost modern feel. The magic isn't just for show—it directly challenges the characters. Oberon isn't a distant god; he's a powerful but emotional being who cares deeply about love and honor. The real magic of the book is watching Huon struggle. He's not a perfect hero. He messes up, he's tempted, and he has to work to earn his happy ending. It's a story about keeping your word, even when it's the hardest thing in the world.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone who loves the roots of fantasy. If you enjoy the old stories that inspired Tolkien and other modern writers, you'll find a treasure here. It's also great for readers who like their classics with a dose of humor and heart. Fair warning: it's a poem, so the rhythm is different from a novel. But give it a chapter, and you might just get swept away by a fairy king and his very troubled human project.