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The Complete Fairy Tales (Penguin Classics) Paperback – September 1, 1999

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George MacDonald (Author)
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4.3 out of 5 stars 26 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Series: Penguin Classics
  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics (September 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140437371
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140437379
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThe Complete Fairy Tales
By Valerie King on July 3, 2000
Format: Paperback
I find it such a pity that this literary genious is not more widely read! This particular book, I have read and re-read so frequently in the last 8 years that I may soon be forced to purchase it again. The cover has been rolled into a perpetual "O" and so many pages have been dog-earred and folded, that it has become rather hard to read. Needless to say, I have found this book one of the most enjoyable of the many many books I've read during my 17 years of life. The stories contained in this book are exceptionally enchanting and the symbolism superb! They have undoubtably had a strong influence on my own writing style.
I would recommend George MacDonald over all other authors (with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien a close second and third). And I would recommend this book to fantasy readers over any other piece I've read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFrom the first master
By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on February 9, 2003
Format: Paperback
George MacDonald, a 19th-century minister from Scotland, may be the earliest writer of fantasy as we know it today. He was a prolific writer and an influence on grand masters C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and here some of his less-known (but well-written) works.
First of all is his essay on "The Fantastic Imagination," where he discusses fantasy, fairy tales, and the nature of childlike innocence. There are also short stories, such as the novella "Light Princess," about a girl who is a lightweight in mind AND body, excerpts from the dreamy fantasy novel "At The Back of the North Wind," the haunting "Shadows" that appear for a king, a "Wise Woman" who sweeps away an obnoxious princess, and several others.
MacDonald's stories have the sort of rich, compelling prose that the best of 19th-century literature has. His stories are full of creepy creatures, magical women, golden keys and dreamy atmosphere, the sort of stuff now written by Jane Yolen and not many others. But they're also more grounded and traditionally fairy-tale-like than the stories of later writer Lord Dunsany. Rather, you can see how Lewis and Tolkien would have both enjoyed and been influenced by MacDonald.
A good selection of short stories and a thought-provoking essay, definitely for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. Delightful.
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1.0 out of 5 starsFabulous stories, HORRIBLE editing and printing
By Rebecca Petris on December 13, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I love George Macdonald and some of these short stories are among my alltime favorites. But I was terribly disappointed with this edition. The printing goes so close to the spine that it's a struggle just to hold the book open wide enough to see it all. The stores are just crammed in together like a poor quality homemade book. Typos are rampant throughout. My recommendation - by all means get these fables but get them individually or get a different edition of the collection.
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5.0 out of 5 starsMossy and Tangle
By Laurie on December 19, 2008
Format: Paperback
George MacDonald was one of those rare writers who speak the language of dream and fairy-tale like a native. Shorter pieces in this style tend to work best, so it's fair to say that this book shows MacDonald at his finest. The stories vary widely in tone. The good-humoured courtly teasing of "The Light Princess", the darker Celtic fairies of "The Carasoyn". The curious folklore variations of "The Wise Woman" with its delightful opening: "There was a certain country where things used to go rather oddly". "The Day Boy and the Night Girl", part fairy-tale, part new-made myth and part dream-like parable, a story only George MacDonald could have written.

Three excerpts from the full-length children's book "At the Back of the North Wind" have been included, two dreams and the inset story "Little Daylight". These sections help to give that book its wistful, mystical atmosphere: because the author was as near to being a mystic as a good Protestant can be. ("Where did you come from, baby dear?/ Out of the everywhere into here.")

Best of all is the indescribable "Golden Key". Here MacDonald refines and perfects the sheer dream-flow he used in the grown-up novel "Phantastes", creating a haunting narrative that defies interpretation. If you do nothing else in life, read "The Golden Key". But all these stories brim with the whispered untranslatable wisdom that belongs to fairy-tale. For those who don't know MacDonald, this is the ideal place to start. Essential for anyone interested in wonder-tales or Victorian children's writing, highly recommended to anyone everyone else. Many of these stories can be read to children, but some may be considered too wordy. Why are there no illustrated versions in print?
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4.0 out of 5 starsMarred by careless proofreading.
By A Customer on November 24, 2001
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The stories were languid yet wry. Very enjoyable. However, I don't believe I've ever encountered such careless errors. In addition to numerous spelling errors, the chapter heading was wrong in TWO cases! The introduction was lacking as well. Read George MacDonald, but get a different edition of his works.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe First Surrealist?
By theboombody VINE VOICE on July 12, 2008
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
George MacDonald has quickly become one of my favorite authors with this collection of work here. I had already read The Golden Key and enjoyed it, and wondered if his other works were similar. I was not disappointed.

The only negative thing I can say about these stories is The Light Princess slows down a bit in the middle, and The Wise Woman starts off kinda slow. Everything else is top notch. Sure, someone could argue that The Shadows is as inconclusive as a story gets, but you know; that really didn't bother me. Anyway, MacDonald has an argument for the existence of inconclusive stories at the end of The Wise Woman for folks who want to make something of it.

Now for a brief synopsis of each story that's contained. Most of these stories are taken from some of MacDonald's full novels:

The Fantastic Imagination Essay is quite amusing, particularly when it discusses how you can ruin a fairy tale completely by simply inserting a gentleman with a cockney accent. I'd like to try that some time.

The Light Princess isn't a story about a girl who gives out magical glowing light. It's about a princess who's so light in weight that she floats. This misinterpretation of the title actually did disappoint me, and that's probably the reason I thought the story was a little slow in the middle. But I enjoyed what was there, even if it wasn't the best demonstration of MacDonald's wild imagination.

The Shadows is a downright creepy story for the first few pages, and then the narrator takes us into the church of the shadows, where the shadows simply tell random stories, most of them fairly light-hearted. A boy thinks that shadows are ghosts that got all black from getting stuck in a chimney. Pretty logical for a kid if you think about it.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsI Love the Old Classicss

...and George MacDonald wrote a really long time ago, so his stories are quirky, nostalgic, and old-fashioned. They are blueprints for using one's imagination. Read more

Published 14 months ago by anotherbibliophile
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

these tales are by the Scottish expert, George McDonald. They are longer tales, but well worth reading.

Published 18 months ago by Yuki Bordeaux
2.0 out of 5 starsNo good for me.

This is not what I was expecting. Did not enjoy this at all.
It was to late to return so I gave it away.
It was violent at some points, not a good book for bedtime.

Published 20 months ago by Sammy
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

:)

Published 21 months ago by Raymond Moses Chupp
4.0 out of 5 starsBut his stories are amazing and delightful

MacDonald is one of the earliest fantasy/fairytale writers. Being born in 1824, his prose can be a bit cumbersome, therefore not 5 stars. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Belmont
4.0 out of 5 starsOne of my favorite books of fairy tales

I find that hardly anybody knows about George MacDonald these days, so I have bought many of these books as gifts. Read more

Published on December 27, 2013 by Brian Shaughnessy
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Collection -- Not complete, but a good selection.

Read for the underlying meanings or read for pleasure -- either way, MacDonald will get through to your heart on one level or another. Read more

Published on December 16, 2013 by Cindy
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Book

I am really happy with this book. The stories are fun to read and keep me interested. Would recommend to anybody looking for some good stories and fairy tales.

Published on December 15, 2013 by mixmasta712
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Classics RULE!!!

For those interested in giving their children exposure to British classics, this excellent tome should not be overlooked! Read more

Published on March 14, 2013 by JJ Darling
5.0 out of 5 starsThe BEST fairy tale teller!! C.S. Lewis' favorite!!!

A MUST for Christians who love fairy tales that say something deep but also for non-believers, too!! Each tale makes you think. Some make you laugh and some make you cry. Read more

Published on July 28, 2009 by HisArtisticDaughter58

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