I've just got to tell you all how much I am enjoying reading books by George MacDonald. I had never heard of him until a friend in the ward mentioned reading
At the Back of the North Wind as a child. Both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien credit MacDonald with influencing their writing, and Lewis has written an anthology of some of his favorite MacDonald insights. George MacDonald trained to become a minister, and did so, but after just a few short months he was "let go" for being too liberal and tolerant in his ideas. He writes children's fantasy, but he says that he doesn't write for children but for the childlike. I wish I had elementary school aged children to read these stories to. The stories have many levels. They are a wonderful adventure for children, but adults see deeper meanings with each reading. MacDonald has some common themes. One is "beautiful death" and another is the "wise woman" (one more reason to like him). Apparently he had an old grandmother who lived nearby when he was a child so many of his stories contain a woman who seems omnipotent and is very wise and loving. I recommend
The Princess and the Goblin, and
The Princess and Curdie, it's sequel. He has a collection of short stories at the library called
The Gifts of the Child Christ that I have checked out twice but others keep requesting it. His popularity ebbs and flows so some of his books are out of print. You'd have to find them on Amazon.com or on ebay. I would be interested to know if anyone has ever heard of him, and what you think of the books, if anyone reads them.
