The Wise Woman and Other Stories (Fantasy Stories of George MacDonald) [Paperback]

George MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Fantasy Stories of George MacDonald

George MacDonald (1824-1905), the great nineteenth-century innovator of modern fantasy, influenced not only C. S. Lewis but also such literary masters as Charles Williams and J. R. R. Tolkien. Though his longer fairy tales Lilith and Phantastes are particularly famous, much of MacDonald’s best fantasy writing is found in his shorter stories. In this volume editor Glenn Sadler has compiled some of MacDonald’s finest short works—marvelous fairy tales and stories certain to delight readers familiar with MacDonald and those about to meet him for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a great nineteenth-century innovator of modern fantasy, whose 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

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 23, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802818609
• ISBN-13: 978-0802818607
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC--SUPERB, December 24, 1999

By 

Louise Dana - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wise Woman and Other Stories (Fantasy Stories of George MacDonald) (Paperback)

The standout of this collection is the title story, "The Wise Woman, or, The Obstinate Princess." The princess in question is Rosamund, whose royal parents have spoiled her absolutely rotten. In fact, they are sick of her, she's so disgustingly violent and selfish (thanks largely to their 'care'). Enter the Wise Woman, who steals Rosamund away underneath her voluminous cloak and takes Rosamund to her cottage, which is miles away from nowhere--and bigger on the inside than the outside. Here, for the first time, Rosamund begins to learn that her wishes are not what the world revolves around. Very slowly. Before that happens, however, she enters another world through a picture and takes the place of another spoiled brat, Agnes, daughter of a shepherd and shepherdess. Agnes takes Rosamund's place. The Wise Woman does her best to save both girls, whose (to paraphrase Burke) intemperate minds mean that they cannot be free; their passions have forged their fetters. I can't tell you how the story ends, however. You'll have to find out for yourself.

MacDonald writes in an elegant, leisurely style (he takes three pages to describe a rainstorm at the beginning), and the story is rather long for a story--a 100 pages, give or take a few. But these are not really drawbacks. To adult readers, the story is a rather obvious, but effective, allegory of God's offer of redemption to humanity. To child readers, it is simply a good story; they will probably miss the parallel, but get the message. The story is filled with memorable scenes and images: the little cottage, the Wise Woman's eerie song, Agnes in her bubble (in more ways than one), Rosamund losing her temper with the little child in the boat. These make as much of an impression as the ideas, especially the recurring one that it is not enough to good; that's easily done when one's in a good mood. The goodness that counts is that done against one's inclinations--a hard doctrine that negates most of my good deeds, if nobody else's.

In short, this is a haunting book. It is well-written, it is thoughtful, it stands up both as a strong story and as a sermon, it entertains, it rebukes; it rewards repeated reading with additional meaning.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone, the cream of the crop of fairy tales, October 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wise Woman and Other Stories (Fantasy Stories of George MacDonald) (Paperback)

The Wise Woman, while being a wonderful story also shows amazing insights that the child care specilists seem to just be getting, and it helps parents and the child themselves see cause and effects of different parenting! If you don't have the money to buy it, borrow it from someone!

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wise Woman is a profound and superb allegory, December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wise Woman and Other Stories (Fantasy Stories of George MacDonald) (Paperback)

Next to the Bible, this book has impacted my life more than any other. If one would truly enjoy taking a good, honest look at one's character, this is the book! It is a frightening mirror of our own humanity, yet one that will inspire change!