What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shadows
Old Ralph Rinkelmann made his living by comic sketches, and all but lost it again by tragic poems. So he was just the man to be chosen king of the fairies…”
George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. Though no longer well known, his works (particularly his fairy tales and fantasy novels) have inspired admiration in such notables as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L’Engle. The Shadows is one such fairy tale. The strange Shadows spend their existence casting themselves upon the walls and forming pictures of various mimicking evil actions of those who have done wrong in the hopes of causing their repentance, playing a comic dumb-show to inspire a playwright and dancing to inspire a musician, nudging a little girl to comfort her grandfather, and playing with a sick little boy as he waits for his mother to return home. For all that their forms are black, their hearts are of the whitest.
(Summary by Wikipedia and Catharine Eastman)
First
CROSS PURPOSES
by George MacDonald
CONTENTS.
CROSS PURPOSES THE SHADOWS
CROSS PURPOSES
CHAPTER I.
Once upon a time, the Queen of Fairyland, finding her own subjects far too well behaved to be amusing, took a sudden longing to have a mortal or two at her Court. So, after looking about her for some time, she fixed upon two to bring to Fairyland.
But how were they to be brought?
"Please your majesty," said at last the daughter of the prime minister, "I will bring the girl."
The speaker, whose name was Peaseblossom, after her great great grandmother, looked so graceful, and hung her head so apologetically, that the Queen said at once,
"How will you manage it, Peaseblossom?"
"I will open the road before her, and close it behind her."
"I have heard that you have pretty ways of doing things; so you may try."
The court happened to be held in an open forest glade of smooth turf, upon which there was just one mole heap. As soon as the Queen had given her permission to Peaseblossom, up through the mole heap came the head of a goblin, which cried out,
"Please your majesty, I will bring the boy..
George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. Though no longer well known, his works (particularly his fairy tales and fantasy novels) have inspired admiration in such notables as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L’Engle. The Shadows is one such fairy tale. The strange Shadows spend their existence casting themselves upon the walls and forming pictures of various mimicking evil actions of those who have done wrong in the hopes of causing their repentance, playing a comic dumb-show to inspire a playwright and dancing to inspire a musician, nudging a little girl to comfort her grandfather, and playing with a sick little boy as he waits for his mother to return home. For all that their forms are black, their hearts are of the whitest.
(Summary by Wikipedia and Catharine Eastman)
First
CROSS PURPOSES
by George MacDonald
CONTENTS.
CROSS PURPOSES THE SHADOWS
CROSS PURPOSES
CHAPTER I.
Once upon a time, the Queen of Fairyland, finding her own subjects far too well behaved to be amusing, took a sudden longing to have a mortal or two at her Court. So, after looking about her for some time, she fixed upon two to bring to Fairyland.
But how were they to be brought?
"Please your majesty," said at last the daughter of the prime minister, "I will bring the girl."
The speaker, whose name was Peaseblossom, after her great great grandmother, looked so graceful, and hung her head so apologetically, that the Queen said at once,
"How will you manage it, Peaseblossom?"
"I will open the road before her, and close it behind her."
"I have heard that you have pretty ways of doing things; so you may try."
The court happened to be held in an open forest glade of smooth turf, upon which there was just one mole heap. As soon as the Queen had given her permission to Peaseblossom, up through the mole heap came the head of a goblin, which cried out,
"Please your majesty, I will bring the boy..
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
George MacDonald
1,747 books2,506 followersGeorge MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 8, 2025
"Old Ralph Rinkelmann made his living by comic sketches, and all but lost it again by tragic poems. So he was just the man to be chosen king of the fairies, for in Fairyland the sovereignty is elective..."
The premise was more promising than the anthology of short shadow anecdotes that turns out to be the substance of the story, but still a delight in many ways.
The premise was more promising than the anthology of short shadow anecdotes that turns out to be the substance of the story, but still a delight in many ways.
December 7, 2021
The atmosphere of this book is my ideal Christmas story
December 21, 2021
Another short story that is loaded with spiritual symbolism.
A common man of the world becomes King of the Fairy world. He is ill in bed when the shadows appear to him. They whisk him off to another dimension, showing him how they work for the good of mankind,
Good but felt like it could have been a bit fleshed out.
No content concerns
A common man of the world becomes King of the Fairy world. He is ill in bed when the shadows appear to him. They whisk him off to another dimension, showing him how they work for the good of mankind,
Good but felt like it could have been a bit fleshed out.
No content concerns
March 8, 2009
MacDonald really outdid himself in the art of description in this incredibly imaginative and beautiful story! It was mesmerizing to be caught up in his words!
December 9, 2023
The description of this book is incorrect. This a great fairytale store.
March 17, 2020
Such a fun short story! This is everything I love about George MacDonald's fairy tales. It's an interesting story packed with allegorical symbolism, along with a good helping of straight-forward biblical teaching.
Probably my favorite line from the story:
It reminds me that "these are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." (Colossians 2:17)
If we really saw the true meaning behind everything in this life, I think we would be so completely overwhelmed with amazement of Jesus!
After I finished listening to The Shadows, I immediately started listening to it again!
Probably my favorite line from the story:
"...amongst the Shadows a man must learn never to be surprised at anything; for if he does not, he will soon grow quite stupid, in consequence of the endless recurrence of surprises."
It reminds me that "these are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." (Colossians 2:17)
If we really saw the true meaning behind everything in this life, I think we would be so completely overwhelmed with amazement of Jesus!
After I finished listening to The Shadows, I immediately started listening to it again!
April 7, 2019
Honestly? I'm just confused.
My next MacDonald will not be an audiobook.
My next MacDonald will not be an audiobook.
November 1, 2019
Odd, but diverting and winter cosy
October 17, 2019
of the 7 or so george macdonald books i've read. this is the only one that is not a 4 star or better
August 21, 2023
I loved how different this story was from many others, and yet how I could also see the influence of this story in several modern-day stories.
December 27, 2023
Whimsical but odd overall. The ending felt rather abrupt.
December 13, 2025
Assolutamente incantevole. Uno dei più belli tra i racconti di Natale mai letti, tenero, tenebroso, immaginifico.
December 14, 2025
The Shadows wonderfully reminded me that delight, playfulness, and imagination are strengths. Through their humor, laughter, and joy, they guide us back toward the light.
S/o George book club 🤟
S/o George book club 🤟
March 22, 2022
“This made it more likely that he has seen a true vision; for instead of making common things looks commonplace, as a false vision would have done, it made common things disclose the wonderful that was in them.”
Beautiful intriguing story filled with allegorical truths about faith.
Beautiful intriguing story filled with allegorical truths about faith.
December 28, 2024
A short story reread of one of my favourite authors. I read this story for the first time Fall 2023 and I knew that I wanted to read this again come wintertime. Another commenter said it best in that this story is the ultimate Christmas atmosphere/vibes.
Incredibly atmospheric and whimsical. I wish that this story had been expanded upon into a longer novel.
Note to self: I read this book via my physical copy
Incredibly atmospheric and whimsical. I wish that this story had been expanded upon into a longer novel.
Note to self: I read this book via my physical copy
June 22, 2012
Creative idea for a book. MacDonald normal uses shadows for a metaphor of evil in his his ferry tales, but in this one, these are little loving shadows who bring good into the world. He truly had quite the imagination
December 14, 2009
Another friend read this aloud on a long slow drive home from the mountains. Enjoyable, but somewhat puzzling. :)
September 6, 2011
Alright, but a bit too gloomy for my liking.
July 14, 2025
“shadows of the mind”
The importance of the shadows’ intrusions.
The beauty of being man—not merely shadow.
The importance of the shadows’ intrusions.
The beauty of being man—not merely shadow.
December 4, 2011
Another intriguing short from George MacDonald. Worth the time if you have about an hour to spare.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews