The Well at the World's End is a high fantasy novel by the British textile designer, poet, and author William Morris.

It was first published in 1896 and has been reprinted repeatedly since, most notably in two parts as the 20th and 21st volumes of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, in August and September 1970.

Morris tells the story of Ralph, the youngest son of King Peter of Upmeads.

Ralph and his three elder brothers are bored of the provincial life, so one day they request permission from their father to explore the world.

The king allows the three eldest sons to depart, but bids Ralph to stay to ensure at least one living heir.

Ralph's explorations begin at Bourton Abbas, where he encounters Ursula, a kind maiden who seems to share his longings, after which he goes through the Wood Perilous.

As he comes near the village of Whitwall, Ralph meets a group of men, including his brother Blaise.

Ralph falls in with some merchants, led by a man named Clement, who travel to the East.

He inquires about her, calling her his "sister", and hears that she has been sold to Gandolf, the cruel Lord of Utterbol.

On its publication, The Well at the World's End was praised by H. G. Wells, who compared the book to Thomas Malory's works and admired its writing style: "all the workmanship of the book is stout oaken stuff, that must needs endure and preserve the memory of one of the stoutest, cleanest lives that has been lived in these latter days".

[2] C. S. Lewis stated that he was "not sure, on second thoughts, that the slow fading of the magic in The Well at the World's End is, after all, a blemish.