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George MacDonald: A Biography of Scotland’s Beloved Storyteller
In this extensive biography, Michael Phillips paints a revealing portrait of George MacDonald. Phillips uses the facts of MacDonald's life to shape a picture of the man, set against the Scottish land he loved. Looking at both his strengths and shortcomings, Phillips does not shy away from the issues that made MacDonald a controversial figure during his life and beyond. Previously out of print, this work will be welcomed by all who have come to love the Scottish storyteller's novels and his view of God as Father.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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216 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Phillips
250 books610 followersLibrarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 30, 2021
Where do I begin with this book? I was so encouraged by the character of George Macdonald. He wasn’t going to be put in man’s boxes—whether that box was a political one or a religious one—and he pursued truth and worked to obey the Lord in all he did no matter what anyone said. His life was plagued with illness of the lungs and much loss—but that sorrow and suffering was a magnet for him to be pulled closer to the Lord and to see Him in everything. He had a sweet relationship with his wife and children and taunted his father-in-law by growing a beard.
Of course we learned about his writings, this was my first introduction into his poetry (which I must now find and read), and where they fell along the timeline of his life. I really enjoyed learning little things like how the drafts in his floorboards inspired Back of the North Wind. We learn about his travels and relationships with others of his time: Charles Dodgson, John Ruskin, and Mark Twain to name a few.
It was said that “He has done for Scotland what St Paul did for Asia Minor: open the windows,” which is certainly some high praise. And you get a sense that you’re reading a biography, despite him never wanting a biography written about him, of someone who isn’t quite ordinary—but in the most wonderful of ways.
Of course we learned about his writings, this was my first introduction into his poetry (which I must now find and read), and where they fell along the timeline of his life. I really enjoyed learning little things like how the drafts in his floorboards inspired Back of the North Wind. We learn about his travels and relationships with others of his time: Charles Dodgson, John Ruskin, and Mark Twain to name a few.
It was said that “He has done for Scotland what St Paul did for Asia Minor: open the windows,” which is certainly some high praise. And you get a sense that you’re reading a biography, despite him never wanting a biography written about him, of someone who isn’t quite ordinary—but in the most wonderful of ways.
August 29, 2016
Now I want to read all of his novels and poems! (I've read the fairy tales and fantasies.)
January 6, 2019
Overall, this is an excellent, comprehensive look into the life and thought of George MacDonald.
My only minor issue with it is in Phillips' approach. His desire was for MacDonald's writings to speak on his behalf. This results in frequent multiple-paragraph, even multiple-page quotes from MacDonald's books. This may not be an issue for some but, by the end of this biography, I found these extended quotations to be a bit much. Between this and some redundancies, I couldn't help but think that this book could have been 50-75 pages shorter and possibly stronger.
That being said, this book provided many enlightening insights into the life of George MacDonald and I have a greater appreciation for his accomplishments and legacy.
My only minor issue with it is in Phillips' approach. His desire was for MacDonald's writings to speak on his behalf. This results in frequent multiple-paragraph, even multiple-page quotes from MacDonald's books. This may not be an issue for some but, by the end of this biography, I found these extended quotations to be a bit much. Between this and some redundancies, I couldn't help but think that this book could have been 50-75 pages shorter and possibly stronger.
That being said, this book provided many enlightening insights into the life of George MacDonald and I have a greater appreciation for his accomplishments and legacy.
October 25, 2024
The writing is a little dense and plenty laudatory, but the object of this biography is a man of integrity, whose life was, according to all reports, above reproach.
Reading this book left me with this prayer: Lord, I want goodness. More and more of Your goodness.
AND it left me about $40 poorer, for before I'd quite finished, I bought a copy for myself plus half a dozen of MacDonald's own books.
Truly, he wrote rich goodness.
Reading this book left me with this prayer: Lord, I want goodness. More and more of Your goodness.
AND it left me about $40 poorer, for before I'd quite finished, I bought a copy for myself plus half a dozen of MacDonald's own books.
Truly, he wrote rich goodness.
September 26, 2022
I didn’t know much about George MacDonald’s life, so this was enlightening. Helpful info on his early life, inspirations, pastoral ministry, theology and, of course, his writings.
December 30, 2022
George MacDonald is as slippery as my ice-covered driveway. He defies being categorized. He writes things that raise antennas and eyebrows. But then his exuberant love of Christ captures a yearning within me. I'm not comfortable reading authors I don't entirely agree with (but I do it regularly), but it is a good exercise in careful reading.
I'm intrigued and want to read more of MacDonald himself.
Personal note: Michael Phillips used to (still?) own and operate the One Way Book Shop in Eureka, California, a block from where I worked. I spent countless lunch hours there in the 1970's.
Another personal note: Since MacDonald was Scottish I was hoping for a Scottish narrator, um, let's say: David Tennant. The narrator was Johnny Heller, my classmate at Glenbard East. His narration was very good, but because his voice was so familiar from another context it could be distracting.
I'm intrigued and want to read more of MacDonald himself.
Personal note: Michael Phillips used to (still?) own and operate the One Way Book Shop in Eureka, California, a block from where I worked. I spent countless lunch hours there in the 1970's.
Another personal note: Since MacDonald was Scottish I was hoping for a Scottish narrator, um, let's say: David Tennant. The narrator was Johnny Heller, my classmate at Glenbard East. His narration was very good, but because his voice was so familiar from another context it could be distracting.
October 19, 2013
I enjoyed this biography – my first opportunity to become familiar with the life story of one of my most beloved authors, mentors and spiritual friends. But I find myself in agreement with the concluding words of the biographer Michael Phillips: “As MacDonald himself emphasized, his life lives in his books. And this is where the real biography is to be found . . . in the more than fifty volumes that flowed from George MacDonald’s pen.”
George MacDonald once remarked: “People find this great fault with me – that I turn my stories into sermons. They forget that I have a Master to serve first before I can wait upon the public.” It was suggested by this biographer that if MacDonald had not such a higher calling, his books would have “been as immortal as (his contemporary) Dickens”. MacDonald in his early years would have preferred to be a preacher, yet due to his poor health and controversial theology, he was never able to succeed in the profession. Yet his influence as beloved author would ultimately have a much more far-reaching impact.
His health was often poor. Multiple bouts of tuberculosis as well as consumption, asthma, rheumatism in his lower back, eczema, intense headaches and bouts of sleeplessness were among his many ailments. He was also well acquainted with grief; several of his 11 children and his wife predeceased him. His daughter observed during one particular bout with severe illness that “he had suffered intensely, and who shall say these sufferings were not for other people – in what he may hereafter write . . . he says himself that he had never had anything but the luxury of illness before, and it was well that he should know its real misery . . .”
G. K. Chesterton once said of MacDonald that his gift was “a miracle of imagination”. The biographer goes on to testify that MacDonald’s art was something “no evangelist, no gospel expositor, no devotional writer, even no ‘inspirational novelist,’ and certainly no Calvinist preacher had ever done. Concerned only with the so-called religious side of life (i.e., the miracle), their imaginations had been left behind, leaving only formula, ritual, dogma, and the lifeless phrases and proof texts of the Shorter Catechism in the drab Calvinist towns of their theology”.
C.S. Lewis had the following to say about MacDonald: “. . . to speak plainly I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself . . . his Christ-like union of tenderness and severity. Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined.” With respect to his works of fantasy, C.S. Lewis testified that “MacDonald is the greatest genius of this kind that I know” and he further makes the claim that “I have never concealed the fact that I regarded his as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.”
This biography makes many references to the theology of George MacDonald. I choose only one such reference – the letter he wrote in response to a critic of his “unorthodox” views: “Do not suppose that I believe in Jesus because it is said so-and-so in a book . . . the Bible is to me the most precious thing in the world, because it tells me his story . . . but (those who hold to) the common theory of the inspiration of the words, instead of the breathing of God’s truth into the hearts and souls of those who wrote it . . . are in danger of being idolaters of the Bible instead of disciples of Jesus . . . It is Jesus who is the Revelation of God . . . Jesus alone is the Word of God.”
In this same letter, MacDonald confronts the claims to doctrinal certainly that were pervasive in the church of his day. To this he responded “With all sorts of doubt I am familiar, and the result of them is, has been, and will be, a widening of my heart and soul and mind to greater glories of the truth – the truth that is in Jesus – and not in Calvin or Luther or St. Paul or St. John, save as they got it from him, from who every simple heart may have it, and can alone get it. You cannot have such proof of the existence of God or the truth of the Gospel story as you can have of a . . . chemical experiment. But the man who will order his way by the word of the Master shall partake of his peace, and shall have in himself a growing conviction that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . . . I cannot say I never doubt . . . for doubt is the hammer that breaks the windows clouded with human fancies, and lets in the pure light.”
George MacDonald once remarked: “People find this great fault with me – that I turn my stories into sermons. They forget that I have a Master to serve first before I can wait upon the public.” It was suggested by this biographer that if MacDonald had not such a higher calling, his books would have “been as immortal as (his contemporary) Dickens”. MacDonald in his early years would have preferred to be a preacher, yet due to his poor health and controversial theology, he was never able to succeed in the profession. Yet his influence as beloved author would ultimately have a much more far-reaching impact.
His health was often poor. Multiple bouts of tuberculosis as well as consumption, asthma, rheumatism in his lower back, eczema, intense headaches and bouts of sleeplessness were among his many ailments. He was also well acquainted with grief; several of his 11 children and his wife predeceased him. His daughter observed during one particular bout with severe illness that “he had suffered intensely, and who shall say these sufferings were not for other people – in what he may hereafter write . . . he says himself that he had never had anything but the luxury of illness before, and it was well that he should know its real misery . . .”
G. K. Chesterton once said of MacDonald that his gift was “a miracle of imagination”. The biographer goes on to testify that MacDonald’s art was something “no evangelist, no gospel expositor, no devotional writer, even no ‘inspirational novelist,’ and certainly no Calvinist preacher had ever done. Concerned only with the so-called religious side of life (i.e., the miracle), their imaginations had been left behind, leaving only formula, ritual, dogma, and the lifeless phrases and proof texts of the Shorter Catechism in the drab Calvinist towns of their theology”.
C.S. Lewis had the following to say about MacDonald: “. . . to speak plainly I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself . . . his Christ-like union of tenderness and severity. Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined.” With respect to his works of fantasy, C.S. Lewis testified that “MacDonald is the greatest genius of this kind that I know” and he further makes the claim that “I have never concealed the fact that I regarded his as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him.”
This biography makes many references to the theology of George MacDonald. I choose only one such reference – the letter he wrote in response to a critic of his “unorthodox” views: “Do not suppose that I believe in Jesus because it is said so-and-so in a book . . . the Bible is to me the most precious thing in the world, because it tells me his story . . . but (those who hold to) the common theory of the inspiration of the words, instead of the breathing of God’s truth into the hearts and souls of those who wrote it . . . are in danger of being idolaters of the Bible instead of disciples of Jesus . . . It is Jesus who is the Revelation of God . . . Jesus alone is the Word of God.”
In this same letter, MacDonald confronts the claims to doctrinal certainly that were pervasive in the church of his day. To this he responded “With all sorts of doubt I am familiar, and the result of them is, has been, and will be, a widening of my heart and soul and mind to greater glories of the truth – the truth that is in Jesus – and not in Calvin or Luther or St. Paul or St. John, save as they got it from him, from who every simple heart may have it, and can alone get it. You cannot have such proof of the existence of God or the truth of the Gospel story as you can have of a . . . chemical experiment. But the man who will order his way by the word of the Master shall partake of his peace, and shall have in himself a growing conviction that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . . . I cannot say I never doubt . . . for doubt is the hammer that breaks the windows clouded with human fancies, and lets in the pure light.”
December 10, 2015
A great biography in becoming familiar with the man who has written so many great works of poetry and story.
March 7, 2017
I LOVE MacDonald! Reading about him is fascinating. This biography is so detailed was a bit slow going.
September 16, 2024
"When I read George MacDonald, I felt as if I had been transported to a world where beauty and mystery reigned supreme." CS Lewis
Didn’t love this extremely extensive book, but loved getting to know the man.
Didn’t love this extremely extensive book, but loved getting to know the man.
September 4, 2014
I'll start by saying I am a big fan of George MacDonald, as well as what Michael Phillips has done in bringing him to a new generation. However, I found this book more in the "useful for reference" category than "enjoyable for reading."
The Prologue is awesome. And there were certain chapters I enjoyed. All in all though, I felt that the meat was lost in a sea of details about family life and lengthy quotes. There are several interesting anecdotes, but in general this biography felt overloaded.
I dropped it to two stars when I read the eight pages of quoting MacDonald's Unspoken Sermons as an explanation of how he thinks about the afterlife. I had already read many of those sermons, and a half-dozen of his novels, so these lengthy quotes didn't really add to the story for me.
Phillips does point out that the best way to get to know MacDonald is through reading his books, and for me I felt that saying still stood true after reading most of this biography. If you want an introduction to George MacDonald, this biography would be a decent one. If you are a reader looking to delve into George MacDonald's thought-life or theology, his books can stand for themselves.
The Prologue is awesome. And there were certain chapters I enjoyed. All in all though, I felt that the meat was lost in a sea of details about family life and lengthy quotes. There are several interesting anecdotes, but in general this biography felt overloaded.
I dropped it to two stars when I read the eight pages of quoting MacDonald's Unspoken Sermons as an explanation of how he thinks about the afterlife. I had already read many of those sermons, and a half-dozen of his novels, so these lengthy quotes didn't really add to the story for me.
Phillips does point out that the best way to get to know MacDonald is through reading his books, and for me I felt that saying still stood true after reading most of this biography. If you want an introduction to George MacDonald, this biography would be a decent one. If you are a reader looking to delve into George MacDonald's thought-life or theology, his books can stand for themselves.
July 21, 2016
A good biography of George MacDonalds life by Michael Phillips. He uses MacDonalds books and writing to paint a picture of his life both during his hard and good times. He does a good job in combining his religious views into the book and showing how important this side was him.
October 13, 2010
Three stars not because it wasn't a good book, but simply because it's not the kind of book I particularly enjoy.
August 15, 2013
Engaging enough. Full of quotations, so it is kind of a compendium of MacDonald seen through his own writings.
January 23, 2017
I appreciated looking into George MacDonald's life. Very thorough book and well written!
January 13, 2020
George MacDonald was a fascinating man, and his work had an incredible impact on the English-speaking world, and yet, for anyone who isn't a fan of CS Lewis, he's largely an unknown. Christians aren't quite sure what to do with him: some of his beliefs are distinctly unorthodox, and yet his constant aim was to point people back to Jesus; his novels aren't first-rate literature, but his fantasy, which "hovers between the allegorical and the mythopoeic", according to Lewis, "he does better than any man."
I was excited to start off my "Year of George MacDonald" with a biography... but didn't love this one. While I could clearly see Phillips' love for MacDonald and his works, the organization of the book suffered. He built up much of his evidence for his claims of MacDonald's beliefs and emotions on passages from his novels. While I am willing to consider these claims, the use of extensive quotations from MacDonald's novels led to a very jolting, awkward sort of pacing. We read many passages from a book within the first few chapters, and read references to it throughout, only to finally learn where it fits in the cannon at the very end. And this doesn't happen to one book, but to many. The author also makes mention of events still to come in MacDonald's life (such as a death of a child), but doesn't actually get around to relating the event until several chapters later.
Ultimately, I'm glad to have read it, but I hope to get my hands on a few other biographies this year to see if they manage to avoid the pitfalls of this one.
I was excited to start off my "Year of George MacDonald" with a biography... but didn't love this one. While I could clearly see Phillips' love for MacDonald and his works, the organization of the book suffered. He built up much of his evidence for his claims of MacDonald's beliefs and emotions on passages from his novels. While I am willing to consider these claims, the use of extensive quotations from MacDonald's novels led to a very jolting, awkward sort of pacing. We read many passages from a book within the first few chapters, and read references to it throughout, only to finally learn where it fits in the cannon at the very end. And this doesn't happen to one book, but to many. The author also makes mention of events still to come in MacDonald's life (such as a death of a child), but doesn't actually get around to relating the event until several chapters later.
Ultimately, I'm glad to have read it, but I hope to get my hands on a few other biographies this year to see if they manage to avoid the pitfalls of this one.
December 1, 2022
A solid, functional biography of the Scottish literary figure and Christian teacher George MacDonald, the writer who C. S. Lewis said was the author who influenced Lewis the most--quite a claim for a literature professor, especially about an author who appealed to popular tastes. Still, what is most significant about MacDonald's life were his thoughts and imagination, and not necessarily the biographical facts. Phillips covers some of MacDonald's mystical theology, which is more focused on his relationship with God and Jesus rather than conforming to particular traditions, but more would have been helpful. Still, it is easy to see why Lewis was inspired to focus on "mere" Christianity, which is still an underappreciated radical move by MacDonald and then Lewis, since it removes the premise of tribalism that each group has exclusive claims to the truth. Overall, I am glad to know the outline of MacDonald's life and be reminded why he is so inspiring.
January 18, 2024
This isn't quite hagiography, but not far from it. There is a long focus on his youth and the novels that bowered heavily from his youth and early adulthood, and much less on his later years and his fantasies- the books he is now must well known for.
I don't know much about MacDonald, having only read a couple of his books before, but was inspired to dig in when I recognized him when I recently re-read C. S. Lewis' Great Divorce. I figured start with a biography to have something to hang my hat on when I start working through his fiction and other works.
The author shares the love of MacDonald that I feel when I read others writers talking about him. This isn't an academic biography, and I was kind of expecting one. The author writes for "the Christian market" and in this instance I'm not bothered by that- MacDonald took his faith as central to his life and having a biographer that doesn't sneer at that is very much appreciated.
This was good.
I don't know much about MacDonald, having only read a couple of his books before, but was inspired to dig in when I recognized him when I recently re-read C. S. Lewis' Great Divorce. I figured start with a biography to have something to hang my hat on when I start working through his fiction and other works.
The author shares the love of MacDonald that I feel when I read others writers talking about him. This isn't an academic biography, and I was kind of expecting one. The author writes for "the Christian market" and in this instance I'm not bothered by that- MacDonald took his faith as central to his life and having a biographer that doesn't sneer at that is very much appreciated.
This was good.
May 15, 2025
I am so grateful to Michael Phillips for this and the Bethany House publications edited by Michael Phillips.
I have read the Bethany House Michael Phillips editions of MacDonald's works under
The Fisherman's Lady
The Baronets Song
The Shephards Castle
The Tutors First Love and The Curates Awakening as well as
The Princess and Curdie
Phantastes and some fairy tales like The Light Princess
And Dan Hamilton's version of The Parish Papers trilogy
and have developed such gratitude for the work of and stories left us by George MacDonald.
My thanks to Michael Phillips, for without my sister introducing me to your books, I might have missed out on some very life affecting and beautiful literature and knowing who this wonderful man was.
I have read the Bethany House Michael Phillips editions of MacDonald's works under
The Fisherman's Lady
The Baronets Song
The Shephards Castle
The Tutors First Love and The Curates Awakening as well as
The Princess and Curdie
Phantastes and some fairy tales like The Light Princess
And Dan Hamilton's version of The Parish Papers trilogy
and have developed such gratitude for the work of and stories left us by George MacDonald.
My thanks to Michael Phillips, for without my sister introducing me to your books, I might have missed out on some very life affecting and beautiful literature and knowing who this wonderful man was.
March 11, 2023
This is the second time that I read this biography. George MacDonald was a genius and his storytelling was amazing. Evidently he has always been a controversial person, but I, for one, am fascinated by his life and his books. He is a first rate story teller and it was very interesting to re-read this biography after about 30 years. I walked with him in "older" Scotland and the UK as well as in Italy. Phillips did a great job of using quotes from MacDonald's fiction and poetry to give a picture of the life of a man that CS Lewis called his mentor.
July 18, 2021
Interesting to discover a new author and apparently genuinely good soul. The book was more concerned with his spirituality than his writing per se on my reading and thus less than what I hoped for.
August 29, 2021
A thorough and intriguing account of a favourite author, and a enlightening view of life in the 1800s. It's truly amazing that anyone came out of that time alive...and how very fortunate we are today with our modern conveniences and medical advances.
May 30, 2019
This unusual biography tells a great deal about MacDonald's heart and mind. Occasionally it tells where his body is and what it is doing.
September 17, 2020
What a fascinating life! A great story of hardship and endurance, being true to your convictions despite any negative outcomes.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews