Phantastes: The Annotated 150th Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

George MacDonald (Author), Nick Page (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2008

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of its publication in 1858, Paternoster has produced the first ever annotated edition of Phantastes, George MacDonald (1824-1905). A great nineteenth-century innovator of modern fantasy, his works influenced C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. "I do not write for children," MacDonald once said, "but for the childlike, whether of five, or fifty, or seventy-five." .

Described by MacDonald as 'a faerie romance for men and women', Phantastes tells the tale of Anodos, a young man who one morning wakes up to find himself in the dreamlike landscape of faerie.
Through the landscape he must travel, facing malevolent tree-spirits and fighting giants, dogged all the time by his shadow-self and eventually reaching a climactic act of valour, self-sacrifice and redemption. On his journey he is inspired by a mysterious white lady, befriended by knights and given strength by the 'old woman with the young eyes'.

Phantastes is a tale about selfishness and self-sacrifice, pride and humility, about friendship and fear. Above all it is a novel about death - good death - death which is really the start of life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George MacDonald (1824-1905) was one of the most innovative and original of Victorian writers. His work is noted for its visionary theology, rich symbolism and imaginative power. A great nineteenth-century innovator of modern fantasy, his works influenced C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. "I do not write for children," MacDonald once said, "but for the childlike, whether of five, or fifty, or seventy-five.".

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Paternoster (November 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842276158
• ISBN-13: 978-1842276150
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.