A little princess is protected by her friend Curdie from the goblin miners who live beneath the castle. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

George MacDonald’s Victorian fairy tales transformed the genre of fantasy. His work also shaped the next generation of both children’s literature and modernism: C.S. Lewis regarded MacDonald as a major influence, and writers as diverse as G.K Chesterton and W.H. Auden acknowledged his significance. His best known story for children, The Princess and the Goblin, tells the story of a lonely child princess and her friend, a brave miner boy, in their battle with subterranean monsters. Along with The Princess and the Goblin, this edition includes four other major fairy stories by MacDonald, as well as a selection of historical documents on the works’ composition and reception, Victorian fairy tales, and MacDonald’s literary criticism.

George MacDonald’s Victorian fairy tales transformed the genre of fantasy. His work also shaped the next generation of both children’s literature and modernism: C.S. Lewis regarded MacDonald as a major influence, and writers as diverse as G.K Chesterton and W.H. Auden acknowledged his significance. His best known story for children, The Princess and the Goblin, tells the story of a lonely child princess and her friend, a brave miner boy, in their battle with subterranean monsters. Along with The Princess and the Goblin, this edition includes four other major fairy stories by MacDonald, as well as a selection of historical documents on the works’ composition and reception, Victorian fairy tales, and MacDonald’s literary criticism.

THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN - A BOOK THAT INSPIRED TOLKIEN. With original illustrations. THE PROFESSOR'S BOOKSHELF #5: Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, was a great admirer of George MacDonald's fairy-stories. When his children were young, he used to read The Princess and the Goblin to them in the evenings, before they went to bed. 'Tolkien knew well MacDonald's children's books "The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie", both of which influenced Tolkien's depiction of goblins in The Hobbit, ' writes Douglas A. Anderson in 'Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy'. Dart-Thornton's introduction notes similarities between this story and Tolkien's works, for example: 'The wise, magical, prescient grandmother of the Princess Irene, seems to be a literary ancestor of Galadriel; centuries old and yet looking young, a queen, a healer, a beautiful, golden-haired woman associated with water. 'Princess Irene has a magic ring which is associated with invisibility, being linked to a semi-visible thread. This ring aids her in an escape from the Goblin Underground, much as The One Ring aids Bilbo.' This new edition contains ten illustrations by Jessie Willcox-Smith from the 1920 edition, which was published when Tolkien was aged 28, his eldest child John was three years old and his second child Michael had just been born. The delicately beautiful drawings of Willcox-Smith have been loved by generations of children to this very day. Also included is an illustration by Arthur Hughes from the 1911 edition.

As Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, Gashmu and the enemies of Israel mocked him: "It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel..." (Neh. 6:6). Too many Christians building communities today take the taunts of every modern-day Gashmu seriously. Community is a buzzword, and it turns out there's a lot of bad advice about how to build one. In Gashmu Saith It, Douglas Wilson includes forty years of experience for Christians wanting to build robust communities without retreat or compromise on the foundation of the Gospel. This book is full of wisdom: Get calluses. Be loyal. Fight sin. Build walls on the outside and a church in the middle.

In 'The Princess and the Goblin & The Princess and Curdie (With Original Illustrations)', George MacDonald weaves a captivating tale of adventure, mystery, and the power of friendship. Set in a fantastical world filled with goblins and magical creatures, these two companion novels explore themes of courage, loyalty, and the triumph of good over evil. MacDonald's lyrical prose and imaginative storytelling style transport readers to a whimsical realm where anything is possible. Written in the late 19th century, these books are considered classics of children's literature, yet they continue to resonate with readers of all ages. The author expertly combines elements of fairy tales and allegory to create a timeless and enchanting narrative. George MacDonald's background as a minister and his deep faith influence the moral lessons subtly woven throughout the stories. His belief in the power of love and goodness shines through his vivid characters and rich world-building. 'The Princess and the Goblin & The Princess and Curdie' is a must-read for those who appreciate imaginative storytelling, moral allegory, and timeless classics that continue to inspire generations of readers.

A little princess is protected by her friend Curdie from the goblin miners who live beneath the castle. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

George MacDonald occupied a major position in the intellectual life of his Victorian contemporaries. This volume brings together all eleven of his shorter fairy stories as well as his essay "The Fantastic Imagination". The subjects are those of traditional fantasy: good and wicked fairies, children embarking on elaborate quests, and journeys into unsettling dreamworlds. Within this familiar imaginative landscape, his children's stories were profoundly experimental, questioning the association of childhood with purity and innocence, and the need to separate fairy tale wonder from adult scepticism and disbelief.

“One of MacDonald’s best and most satisfying books”—a Victorian-era fairy tale featuring a lonely princess and a miner’s son (Tor.com). As editor of the magazine Good Words for the Young, MacDonald had a ready audience for “fairy tale” and “children’s” stories and produced some of his most famous titles during this period of his writing life. The third of his stories for the magazine, The Princess and the Goblin, published in 1872, is universally acclaimed as MacDonald’s best pure fairy tale, and has been enchanting readers for well over a century. This story of princess Irene, her mysterious ageless namesake “grandmother,” and miner’s son Curdie surely provided inspiration for C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. G.K. Chesterton wrote of it in 1924, “I can really testify to a book that has made a difference to my whole existence, which has helped me to see—a vision of things—so real. Of all the stories I have read, it remains the most real, the most realistic, in the exact sense of the phrase the most like life. It is called The Princess and the Goblin, and it is by George MacDonald.” This edition for The Cullen Collection is unedited in any way. “A little-known, girl-powered fairy tale that should be on your radar.”—Bustle “A rich, vibrant tale.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune