The Princess and the Goblin

By George MacDonald,

Book cover of The Princess and the Goblin

Book description

Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors - and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is givenā€¦

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Princess and the Goblin as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

George MacDonaldā€™s mystical adoration of nature shines through all his writings. His books take place in Nineteenth-Century Scotland and England, in an obviously much quieter age. His insights into the living chorus of the natural world transcend any I have ever read.

His characters walk everywhere and absorb the natural world as if through a loving relationship with another soul. I consider George MacDonald my teacher, as did C.S. Lewis. This was written for children, or the childlike in all of us. I read it every year and have dedicated my book, Whippoorwill Willingly to MacDonald.

From Margaret's list on healing power of nature.

I first discovered George MacDonaldā€™s work in a church library, where his books took up several shelves! The Princess and the Goblin is a great introduction to his fantasy novels. This charming story builds on familiar fairy-tale tropes and offers us ingredients that fantasy readers love: homey characters, growing peril, mysterious magic, and events that require uncommon courage and sacrifice. Follow it up with The Princess and Curdie for more delight.

In doing so you will join a great company of beloved Christian authors who appreciated George MacDonaldā€™s genius: C S Lewis felt that Phantastes ā€œbaptized [his] imagination.ā€ My favoriteā€¦

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