Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood

The Marshmallows Trilogy #1

by George MacDonald, Paula Benítez (Editor)

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Classics, Christian, Romance, Christianity

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1867

About the author

George 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.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of spiritual wisdom and the life of Christ, even more than most others by MacDonald that I have read. It is somewhat like taking Baxter's The Reformed Pastor, and casting it into fiction. My dear friend Len Pine, pastor of the Bible Presbyterian church in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, read it upon my recommendation. He wrote me afterward with gratitude, "rarely have a I read a book that has brought such pleasure to my heart and insight to my mind all at the same time. " I wholeheartedly concur with my brother in this.

[ian nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's gonna take me a while to finish this one, because it's one that I love to move through slowly. MacDonald puts into words not one or even a few, but several of the concepts that often fly around my brain, and that's just... pleasing.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely Victorian classic, about a vicar finding his way in his new parish. Book one of three. Dan Hamilton did a wonderful job of simplifying some of MacDonald's verbosity without losing any of the beautiful language.

[Jen Ebers]

I just love MacDonald’s gentle and wandering yet profound voice.

[Charlotte Gunther · Rating 3 out of 5]

MacDonald tells his stories so that his readers might understand God's love and mercy. But the unquestioned rules of class in 19thC England seem greater than biblical admonitions. One's station in life is determined by birth and heritage, and it is one's christian duty to maintain that place. But excellence in godliness and spirituality is possible for anyone, no matter the circumstances of his birth. In this story we see the struggles of a village parson (who is grateful for his status as a 'gentleman') as he persuades by word and deed to bring his flock to godliness. There is godliness in the most humble of his people and wickedness among those who are high-born. Polite direct speech rules in every conversation. Good story, good talk, and concepts about God that are worthy of contemplation and practice.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. The story held my interest and I feel like the author had a good understanding of people. He is a bit too preachy. I love wise tidbits, but when you start copying out whole sermons into your novel... Well, maybe it's time for a bit of careful editing.

[Courtney Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

George MacDonald's novels are often a mixture of sermon and story, and usually quite devotional. In this book the sermons were more interesting by far than the story.

[Elizabeth Tuecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

best narrative voice ever to be written
(but a little wordy & wandering, so let's give it 4 stars 👌)

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
There was something very comforting and reassuring about this book. Following this man as he moves to a new parish, meets his people and gets to know their troubles - living inside his mind for a while - it lifted my spirits. Here is a sincerely caring person living out his beliefs, making mistakes, having to apologize, learning from the people he serves. Not heavy on plot, but a soothing, if slightly sentimental story about what it's like to be a minister in a old country parish.

[Chelsea Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would describe this novel as part Jane Austen (exploring relationships in a small country parish), part gothic romance (creepy old ladies, mysterious old buildings, people of unknown origin), and part Unspoken Sermons (sooo much biblical and spiritual insight from MacDonald sprinkled throughout). The last part being the best part, IMO.

I loved this book. I can’t believe I’ve never heard it mentioned as one of MacDonald’s notable works. So glad I stumbled upon it.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novel of a new parson, Harry Walton in the parish, in the traditional style of George MacDonald. Here, he meets the parishioners of Marshmallow, makes some friends among them and finds a woman to love. It is a very interesting town of people.
I have moved on to the next novel in this series The Seaboard Parish.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this is my favorite George MacDonald book. Great insight into thoughts and motivations of everyday people. This book has helped me give context to his other Christian writings that are not in story form (Unspoken Sermons, The miracles of our Lord, Hope of the Gospel).

[Faith Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful vacation read. This reminded me of Cranford with a plot (and a sermon or two). I grew to love the villagers and their quirks and wished the book could have continued.
The editing was well done and it was still a charming story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of the book. At about 70% into it, I got impatient with the Vicar and the plot and skipped to the last few chapters. The book was published in 1876 and I guess it is amazing that it is still of interest. I can sense the autobiographical elements in that MacDonald left the church to become an author and thus has very strong ideas of just what a vicar should be. The vicar is impatient with those who discriminate or are condescending to ordinary folk. A quote--"It is the vulgar mind that looks down on the earning and worships the inheriting of money." In that opinion, MacDonald may have been ahead of his time. In his chat with a woman with a child and no husband, he has the vicar give her blame for not resisting. I almost quit the book at that point. I don't think I misunderstood his reprimand.

I'm not sorry I read the book having heard about MacDonald's influence on the Inklings of Oxford--CS Lewis, Tolkein, and others. I bought the download for 99 cents but I think it is available free through Google.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my version (edited by Dan Hamilton) was abridged and took out a little more content than it should have, as the plot was jumpier than I'm used to expecting in a MacDonald book. Still, some enlightening material.
Most memorable segment: “and between the dances I read two or three of Wordsworth’s ballads to them. For I thought if I could get them to like poetry and beautiful things in words, it would not only do them good, but would help them to see what is in the Bible, and therefore to love it more. For I never could believe that a man who did not find God in other places, as well as in the Bible would ever find him there at all. And I have always thought that to find God in other books enables us to see clearly that He is more in the Bible than in any other book, or all the other books put together.”

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not aware of MacDonalds Universalist or nearly Universalist views until reading this. A good storyteller and writer no doubt. Excellent creation of place in his book. I ended up going in search of what did MacDonald really believe, which is apparently open to some debate.

I'll likely stick to his more creative works of fiction in future however.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very good. At times, it (audiobook) sounded like a detective book. It is worth reading for the sermon on mammon alone. Every paragraph is full of meaning, as is usual with older authors.

"The world will never be right till the mind of God is the measure of things and the will of God the Law of things."

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

George MacDonald’s books are just so consistently good and do well written. This is another great example of him taking a simple country vicar’s life and presenting an engaging set of characters who you grow to care about.

[Lesley Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish but it was a wholesome book with lots of wisdom. Could have done without some of the entire sermons but the narrator is a priest so I should expect it.

I did really enjoy how much the narrator pivoted to talk to the reader. You don’t see that much in books nowadays.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of food for thought in this book ! A comforting read on the spiritual life of a small parish and it was fun to glean Macdonald’s theology and spiritual insights through the characters of the book. Definitely not a fast paced book, but a worthwhile read.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a long sermon with some narrative in-between. Just when you are thinking, enough of the sermon already, he gets back to the narrative.

[Erin Schanz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Librivox audio version is terrible! I gave up. Might try again when I have time to read the hard copy.

[Molly Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quiet, a little creepy, and really really beautiful.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be a pastor like Mr. Walton when I grow up.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite of George MacDonald's books - narrative fiction, theology, and musings all mingled into a gripping and deeply thoughtful story.

[Kathy Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The families in this book help us explore forgiveness, parenting adult children, and the value of purity. The teaching against worshipping Mammon is the best I've read on the topic.

[A Hoppy Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creating virtuous characters who are not boring is one of the greatest challenges a writer faces. Villains are so much more fun, and most regular heroes and heroines are just middling good. To have a central figure who consistently struggles with moral questions without turning him/her into a prig is not an easy task. Trollope could do it, so could Tolkien and Marilyne Robinson, but I suspect they struggled with the same issues in their personal lives that their characters do in their fiction. Most of us are fortunately exempt from deep moral challenges.

MacDonald was an ordained minister who was constantly at odds with the leaders of his denomination because he refused to adhere to their rigid ideas of right and wrong. He turned to writing to support his family and to give voice to his opinions about what constitutes moral behavior. He isn't above a little preaching in his novels, but it is not offensive. He was a major influence on C S Lewis, who acknowledges MacDonald as his 'master.' This need to communicate moral values doesn't stop MacDonald from writing some ripping good stories, and his two fantasy novels Phantastes and Lilith are classic forerunners of the genre. His children's stories are fun, too. I have a copy of The Light Princess illustrated by Maurice Sendak that is a delight. The Golden Key, The Princess and the Goblin, and the Princess and Curdie are light-handed accounts of the moral questions that children (and adults) face every day. Try to avoid the bowdlerized versions of his Scottish stories. The Scots dialect is a treat to read, and the digressions are the best part. The versions where the dialect as been eliminated, and the stories condensed are abominations IMHO.

This book isn't one of his best, but even his lesser works are worth the time to read them.

[Renee Wolcott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love George MacDonald, particularly his work for children. This novel is a heavy slog, but I feel honor bound to read his collected works. I may change my mind. In this book, he quotes entire sermons and the lyrics to several Christmas carols. In between these uphill portions, the plot can be snappy but is didactically Christian. (Unsurprisingly, since the narrator is an Anglican clergyman.) I have found it thought-provoking, and perhaps even good for my soul, but not terribly enjoyable. Lots of praise of nature as the house of God, and earnest rejections of class prejudice.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was wonderful to see a true pastor's heart so clearly displayed in the life of the protagonist. My highlights in this book were numerous as I traveled with this new pastor while he entered the lives of all those around him. He truly entered into their joys and sorrows and ministered the Word of God without apology.