Sir Gibbie (George Macdonald Original Works) [FACSIMILE] (Hardcover)

by George MacDonald (Author) "Come oot o' the gutter, ye nickum!" cried, in harsh, half-masculine voice, a woman standing on the curbstone of a short, narrow, dirty lane, at..." (more)
Key Phrases: muckle hoose, yer wull, ither fowk, Mistress Croale, Sir Gilbert, Sir Gibbie (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
George MacDonald's 1870s' Sir Gibbie, about a destitute Scottish orphan, was reportedly a favorite of C.S. Lewis's. An edition of the novel, prepared by Kathryn Lindskoog, inaugurates a Classics for Young Readers series, while a companion, Sir Gibbie: A Guide for Teachers and Students by Ranelda Mack Hunsicker, is available for teachers, students and home-schoolers. In the Guide, Hunsicker contends that Sir Gibbie served as a source for Huckleberry Finn, although Mark Twain (a friend of MacDonald's) upended MacDonald's religious message. Noting that previous editions of Gibbie "cut out much of MacDonald's Christian teaching," Hunsicker adds that Lindskoog's goal was "to restore [the book] to its original Christ-centered plot."

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
SIR GIBBIE is, I think, at once the most direct and most beautiful of all George MacDonalds novels... Children as much delight in its magic as they cherish the enchantment of his fairy tales. -- Greville MacDonald, author of GEORGE MACDONALD AND HIS WIFE -- A Publisher Comments

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 450 pages
• Publisher: Johannesen; 1902 reprint strictly unedited edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881084019
• ISBN-13: 978-1881084013
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,059,388 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sir Gibbie by George Macdonald:exquisite book!, April 3, 2002

A Kid's Review

Sir Gibbie by George Macdonald
The first time I read this book, I found it long, boring, and dull. I didn't understand why everyone else who read it thought it was so excellent. So I really thought hard about it one night, and made up my mind that I would keep reading it until I understood the message. Finally, it came to me, and it was so overpowering that I broke down and cried.
Gibbie is a young, mute boy with an alcoholic father. He has a kind heart and is extremely gentle. His good friend, Sambo, is murdered, and he runs away. Gibbie is just a small boy in a large, cruel world, and he is treated badly by everyone on his journey but one woman, Janet. The variety of places he lived and the things he had to go through really taught me that not everyone has a full roof over their head, or enough clothes to cover more than a few body parts. This book gave me a lot to think about, such as the fact that some children are abused and don't show it at all to anyone. Or that most people just make assumptions about things that they know nothing about. I realize that I am guilty of these things, as everyone else is.
This book was very compelling and I learned a lot about grace and mercy from it. The forgiveness that Gibbie shows his father towards the end is unbelievable, and I thought it was amazing that a tiny, mute boy could show so much more faith, wisdom, and emotion than anyone I have ever met, or read in a book. The story definitely had an impact on my view of how the world treats people and how the smallest child (who isn't even real) could change your life. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone - it is extremely good!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Victorian novel, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sir Gibbie (The Young Reader's Library) (Paperback)

I love this book so much that I have re-read it many times. It is a beautiful story of overcoming obstacles, increasing one's faith, and the redemption of mean-spirited people as they recognize goodness and truth and leave their unkind ways. It makes one's heart leap for joy with its Christian message. The writings of George MacDonald had a major influence on C.S. Lewis, and you will understand why when you read this Victorian classic. This edition is especially good to read to children as the confusing Scottish dialect has been simplified.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Masterful story, but this edition has been trimmed too much., April 25, 2005

By	Richard G. Gitschlag "rgitschlag" (Tillamook, Or United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sir Gibbie (Classics for Young Readers) (Paperback)

I had just began rereading the original long-form version of the story when this Young Readers version arrived.

It didn't take long for me to be disappointed.

In the first, I had to work hard to understand the Broad Scotch passages, the non-P.C. language (BTW, what's wrong with using the word "negro" in an innocently non-judgmental way?) and the author's lengthy sidebars, which are all missing from this edited version. This later edition makes the central story much easier to read.

But, sadly, Ms. Lindskoog removes much of the richness and depth of the original. Gone are the insights into the characters' motivations - all we get are their actions. Gone are the many of MacDonald's opinions about human life and God's desires for us. Gone are many interpersonal exchanges between characters, such as the most of the quite delightful argument between Mistress Croale and Reverend Sclater about his goal of closing her saloon.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a very good story and does not shy away from MacDonald's original *very* evangelical Christian goal. But (this version at least) misses much of what the author originally seems to have intended.

If you can get the full, unabriged version, please, by all means do so. You will be enriched through the effort of reading it. But if you don't want to work that hard, this version is still worthwhile.