The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle has become something of a lesser-known staple of fantasy novels. While not as well known as enduring epics like The Lord of the Rings or more recent additions to the limelight like Game of Thrones, The Last Unicorn has probably touched your life in some way. The opening line of the novel, "The unicorn lived in the lilac wood, and she lived alone," has one very important word in it. The word "she" had never before been used to describe a unicorn before when this book was published in 1968. Now, unicorns are almost never seen as anything but feminine in popular culture. This novel is a great work of fantasy, following the epic quest of the unicorn as she tries to discover what happened to her kin and she meets a cast of unique and interesting characters along the way. From bumbling wizards to heroic princes, characters come to life and keep the pages turning in this classic tale. Overall it's a story of courage, love, and being true to yourself. A must read for any lover of the genre, I can't recommend this book enough.
Adults and children the world over have fallen in love with Beagle's timeless classic, The Last Unicorn. Now, in this historic publication, Beagle's richly inventive novel springs to life in beautifully rendered illustrations that perfectly evoke the mystery and magic of one of man's favorite myths.