Customer Reviews

The Princess and the Goblin (Looking Glass Library)

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I have not written any reviews before but I felt that the works of George MacDonald deserved reviews to bring the works of this forgotten genius back to the light of day. Especially as you can get many of them for free on your kindle. It must first be understood that George MacDonald inspired such authors as J.R.R. Tolkien, W.H. Auden, Madeline L'Engle and E. Nesbit. C.S. Lewis regarded him as his master. If you are a fan of these authors then you might want to seriously consider exploring the works of one who inspired them.

To me the Princess and the Goblin is a fairy tale. Unlike most fairy tales that are stories passed down through the ages George MacDonald wrote this one in 1872. While I have no doubt that he took many things from legend and lore and fairy tales it is nonetheless his own tale. In reading this story I felt that I was a child again reading a wondrous story where anything could happen. MacDonald knows magic and weaves magic in his tale. He also knows how Faerie and the realms of Faerie works. Having been a fan of Tolkien most of my life I have read many of his essays on the realm and I recognize the strange laws of the realm that are difficult to put down to paper but you recognize them even if you can't communicate them yourself.

The story flows quickly and is lively as it revolves around the adventures of a little girl, the Princess Irene and at times the humble honest and wise miner boy Curdie. As they have their misadventures with the Goblins under the mountain you become aware of the guidance of Irene's mysterious and magical Great-Great Grandmother who wields a powerful yet subtle magic. She never takes a direct hand in things in this story but like a Fairy Godmother constantly helps Irene to help herself. The story is simply delightful.

Like a fairy tale from old there are many morals that are illustrated and one is shown the ways of right and wrong. This might turn some people off but I like the fact that MacDonald doesn't beat one about the heads and shoulders with his display of virtues and vices. I feel he keeps just the right measure in his storytelling. After all fairy tales were meant to educate the young in the ways of right and wrong though many have forgotten this.

Many books written by Victorian authors during the Victorian Age can sometimes be a difficult read as they used the language somewhat differently than we do today. I felt that MacDonald wrote clearly and I didn't really have to struggle with anything though his turn of phrases were of course different from modern ones.

So for anyone who loves fairy tales and feels that they have read them and despair that there are no more to read I invite you to read this lost treasure.

It's a credit to "Princess and the Goblin" that its author was a personal favorite (and shaping influence) to fantasy titans C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Fortunately, George MacDonald's early fantasy tale is a story that can easily stand on its own -- it's a mixture of shimmering magic and dark grimy bleakness, written in lushly fantastical prose. The childlike princess can be a little annoying at times, but otherwise this book is a gem.

Little Princess Irene has always been kept in ignorance of the goblins by her overprotective father and nursemaid. But one night when she and her nursemaid stay out a bit too late, they are chased by a bizarre creature... only to be rescued by a young miner boy, Curdie. Since goblins are a job hazard for the miners, Curdie tells her about the goblins and how to scare them away.

But not even singing can fend off the problems that are brewing. While mining, Curdie ends up wandering into the underground caverns where the goblins dwell, and uncovers a horrifying plot to take control of the above-ground kingdom. Meanwhile, Irene explores a mysterious tower where her magical "great-grandmother" lives, and is sent on a magical quest that leads her to Curdie... but can two children stop a goblin invasion?

"The Princess and the Goblin" is one of those novels that feels like someone dug up an old forgotten fairy tale, polished it and released it on the world -- we have goblins, monsters, a humble young hero, a brave princess and a magical goddess-like figure who bestows magical items every now and then. MacDonald balances it all out nicely, and there's a freshness to his story that steers it away from cliches.

And he wrote in the stately, slightly distant way that most 19th-century authors did, with the one flaw being that things get a little twee at times. But that's a small price to play for the lush, exquisitely dreamlike flavor of some of the scenes, such as Irene's visits to her grandmother, in a starlit tower filled with doves and moonlit burning roses. And at the same time, he weaves in some stuff about the goblins that is purely nightmarish, such as Curdie being chased through the horrendous undergrown caverns.

Similarly, it's a credit to him that the characters of Curdie and Irene are as likable as they are. Irene in particular is a triumph, since she can be a twit at times -- but she slowly grows in strength and independence as the book winds on. Curdie is the yang to Irene's yin, as a down-to-earth miner who has to stem a goblin invasion, and Irene's grandmother... well, we're never quite sure what she is. But she's depicted as being imposing, beautiful and kind, if inexplicably removed from the events of the story.

Part fable and part-fairy tale, and populated with goblins, miners and magical grandmothers, "The Princess and the Goblin" is an enchanting prelude to the modern fantasy genre. Definitely worth checking out.

I much prefer Sci-fi to fairy tales and downloaded this to see if the kids would like it. THis book was written over 100 years ago but it is very understandable and engaging. I was very pleasantly surprised and unable to stop reading until I had finished the book. Although there are some aspects of fairy tales, the books characters and plot feel original.

Young Princess Irene is a typical little girl, very curious and precocious with a big heart, although being a princess, she does not lie and is well-behaved. She makes friends with a miner boy who saves her from the goblins when she accidently stays out too late, but can he save her from their plot to kidnap her?

After reading this, I am surprised that I had never before heard of George MacDonald. I will be reading more of his works.

I must confess that I read "The Princess and the Goblin" primarily for educational purposes. I love studying classical fantastic literature, particularly Lewis and Tolkien. Furthermore, Lewis in particular is an inspiration to me. Therefore, I was very interested to learn about the man who had a tremendous influence on these genre trailblazers, to point that Lewis referred to George MacDonald as his master. And with someone like G.K. Chesterton saying that "Princess" had "made a difference to my whole existence" this book seemed like a good place to start.

Fans of Narnia will clearly see the influence MacDonald had on Lewis in the book. The writing style is very similar. Moreover, one can clearly see a shared knack for bringing out key moral and doctrinal points in manner that is both natural and witty. Though it never feels like a sermon, you still come away feeling as if you've learned something.

Some major themes of the book this include the nature of both courage and faith. It's clearly implied that scary creatures (goblins) are terrified by people who aren't afraid of them. Moreover, MacDonald mocks unwarranted pride and portrays it as the goblin's fatal weakness.

Perhaps the major difference between C.S. Lewis and his master is their theology. While he was anything but conventional, Lewis was far more orthodox than MacDonald. While Lewis was a firm Complementarian, MacDonald had definite Egalitarian leanings, going so far as to make the God-figure an old lady. Interestingly enough, both of these men existed before their given doctrinal stances on this issue had been fully systematized and evaluated by church as whole. In many respects, they were both well ahead of their time on this issue, though they found themselves trailblazing in different directions.

Likewise, there's some "I'm okay, you're okay" sentiment expressed, no doubt the fruit of his Universalist theology. While one's views of these issues may affect their perception of the book, the "preaching" is subtle enough that those who disagree with him won't be terribly turned off. The main feeling you have when you finish the book is that you just read a charming piece of literature, not a theological thesis. That said, I was a little surprised by how contemporary MacDonald sounded. It's as if an Emergent church leader had somehow gotten stuck in the late Victorian era.

The story itself follows a "true princess", Irene, and a brave miner boy, Curdie. Both the main characters have high morals, which are more lifestyles than dogmas. There is very little character development in the book. Irene becomes a little braver and Curdie a little more trusting. But that's about it. Perhaps this was done in the spirit of a care-free fairy tale about two children's adventures.

In summary, the book is very good for what it is. It's not incredibly deep, though the underlying themes that do exist are skillfully and wittily portrayed. The book feels very much like a child's fairy tale, with the author not feeling the need to burden the book with realism or unnecessary details. If you're looking for a light, enjoyable read "The Princess and the Goblin" is a good pick.

Book was good quality. Nice size print and many black and white pictures throughout. It is a great story that boys and girls alike will enjoy.

They came out with a movie version of this in the 90's and I loved it! The magic, the bravery, the dream of it all. I can't wait to share this timeless tale with my own daughter! (Because everyone knows the books are always better!)

A favorite story. My boys loved it when they were 6 - 11 y/o. As an adult, I am reading it again. Adventure mixed with fantasy. Christian imagery woven through story line.

After toiling through Lilith I was wary of tackling another MacDonald work; like other reviewers here, I am a life-long devotee of Tolkien's and Lewis and knew of their admiration for MacDonald but had never read him. I started with Lilith and did not find it as satisfying as I'd hoped, but this tale was as delightful as Lilith was wearisome. I have downloaded the sequel and can hardly wait to begin!

This was just a lovely story. I stumbled upon it after seeing a posting on my facebook page. I downloaded it for free on my Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it. What got my attention was the JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis had been huge fans of this man's work. At first, I didn't think the writing was of the same caliber as that of the other two authors, but as the tale wove on, I could see the spiritual overtones and the way it unraveled moral quandries like a good parable. A wonderful tale any little girl would love with more than just a fairy tale story of good vs evil. Would definitely recommend for any child or adult.

When I was a little girl I was madly in love with the cartoon movie The Princess and the Goblin and watched it constantly. It was a magical tale of a princess, a brave miner boy, a mysterious grandmother and the goblins trying to ruin them all. I was so mesmerized by this movie as a child that I actually believed that singing would scare monsters away like it did in the cartoon, and trust me, I sang all the time for that reason alone. I also spent countless hours searching my house for secret passageways like the one in the film. So, when I recently discovered that this movie I loved so much as a child was actually based on a classic story I had to read it at once.

I had high hopes going into this novella and of course, I was a slightly disappointed when the film and novella didn't match up, but that's how all adaptations go. The film is a bit more magical and enchanting than the original story, however, the original story is a masterpiece in its own right. It is a beautiful and imaginative tale that any child could love, and every adult as well. The author's storytelling is like nothing I have read before, I honestly don't know exactly how to describe it, but in my head I pictured an old grandfatherly type sitting by a fireplace while telling a clever and wonderful tale to a group of captivated children. It's really is hard to describe the way the author tells the story, but it feels more like a conversation and not a cookie cutter book. Not only did I love how creative the story was, but I also loved how intelligent it was. There were many words of wisdom in this story, George MacDonald filled it full of meaning and life lessons. It would be a great story for a teacher to read to young students or a parent to read to a child. If you do read it on the Kindle you'll notice that many many sentences have been highlighted by past readers.

While the film holds the top spot in my heart I still loved this story to pieces and highly suggest giving it a read.