Cover of The King of the Golden River

The King of the Golden River

by John Ruskin

First published
1842
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"The King of the Golden River" by John Ruskin is a fantasy story written in 1841 and published in 1851. In the fertile Treasure Valley, two cruel brothers mistreat a magical visitor and lose everything, forcing them into poverty. When they melt their younger brother Gluck's golden mug, they release the King of the Golden River, who offers a tantalizing challenge: climb the mountain and transform the river into gold. But this quest demands more than greed—it tests the human heart itself.

  • Short stories
  • Fairy tales
  • Didactic fiction
  • Conduct of life

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #701. The King of the Golden River on Wikipedia.

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