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The Light Princess and Other Stories
George MacDonald (1824-1905), the great nineteenth-century innovator of modern fantasy, influenced not only C. S. Lewis but also such literary masters as Charles Williams and J. R. R. Tolkien. Though his longer fairy tales Lilith and Phantastes are particularly famous, much of MacDonald's best fantasy writing is found in his shorter stories. In this volume editor Glenn Sadler has compiled some of MacDonald's finest short works-marvelous fairy tales and stories certain to delight readers familiar with MacDonald and those about to meet him for the first time. Madeleine L'Engle Surely George MacDonald is the grandfather of us all-all of us who struggle to come to terms with truth through fantasy. W. H. Auden George MacDonald is pre-eminently a mythopoeic writer.. In his power to project his inner life into images, beings, landscapes which are valid for all, he is one of the most remarkable writers of the nineteenth century. C. S. Lewis What George MacDonald does best is fantasy-fantasy that hovers between the allegorical and the mythopoeic. And this, in my opinion, he does better than any man.
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1864
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1353 people want to read
About the author
George MacDonald
1,681 books2,488 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
January 2, 2014
The copy I read had three stories: The Light Princess, The Giant's Heart, and The Golden Key.
George MacDonald is an incredible writer and his imagination is fabulous!
George MacDonald is an incredible writer and his imagination is fabulous!
November 13, 2020
Light Princess: delightful read: a witty use of words/puns. one for any and all to enjoy!
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is a difficulty-perhaps THE difficulty."
Giant's Heart: struggled enjoying this one.
The Golden Key: a fascinating fantasy (allegorical/ allusion parts?)
there's a lot of layers to think more on: to step into unknown; longing for the country above; concepts of time; the descent
"Sometimes they seemed lovers that passed linked arm in arm, sometimes father and son, sometimes brothers in loving contest, sometimes sisters entwined in gracefullest community of complex form."
"She stood looking for a long time, for there was fascination in the sight; and the longer
she looked the more an indescribable vague intelligence went on rousing itself in her mind."
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is a difficulty-perhaps THE difficulty."
Giant's Heart: struggled enjoying this one.
The Golden Key: a fascinating fantasy (allegorical/ allusion parts?)
there's a lot of layers to think more on: to step into unknown; longing for the country above; concepts of time; the descent
"Sometimes they seemed lovers that passed linked arm in arm, sometimes father and son, sometimes brothers in loving contest, sometimes sisters entwined in gracefullest community of complex form."
"She stood looking for a long time, for there was fascination in the sight; and the longer
she looked the more an indescribable vague intelligence went on rousing itself in her mind."
July 30, 2018
It was really interesting. The style of The Light Princess was funny and the two other stories (The Giant's Heart and The Golden Key) are of the best mini stories I've known especially The Golden Key.
August 29, 2014
This story inspired my new, about to be released novel, Fly.
I read The Light Princess to the kids last summer and an adaptation came to me, a retelling, a twist. I was working on another novel at the time so I put the idea aside until I heard about the musical and thought, I have to put my version out in the world! Quickly!
In the Light Princess, the princess has no gravity, physical or metaphysical, literal or metaphorical. She just floats around and giggles all the live long day.
In Fly, the Princess Amelia flies, and throws big punk rock concerts and cares about nothing in the world.
In the Light Princess the prince is a hottie from another land.
In Fly, the prince is an orphaned village boy named Hank, who surfs and plays guitar, and asks the princess for help with the Kingdom's water shortages.
The water is drying up, in both worlds, in both times, in both books.
How the thoughtful prince and the carefree princess come together to find a solution is the fairytale...
I read The Light Princess to the kids last summer and an adaptation came to me, a retelling, a twist. I was working on another novel at the time so I put the idea aside until I heard about the musical and thought, I have to put my version out in the world! Quickly!
In the Light Princess, the princess has no gravity, physical or metaphysical, literal or metaphorical. She just floats around and giggles all the live long day.
In Fly, the Princess Amelia flies, and throws big punk rock concerts and cares about nothing in the world.
In the Light Princess the prince is a hottie from another land.
In Fly, the prince is an orphaned village boy named Hank, who surfs and plays guitar, and asks the princess for help with the Kingdom's water shortages.
The water is drying up, in both worlds, in both times, in both books.
How the thoughtful prince and the carefree princess come together to find a solution is the fairytale...
February 25, 2024
the way macdonald writes feels like what i’m looking for in every leaf and sunset
he takes the marble from the deepest part of a person’s heart, throws it into the sky, and writes about whatever comes back down
of course the finished product makes no sense, it isn’t supposed to
he takes the marble from the deepest part of a person’s heart, throws it into the sky, and writes about whatever comes back down
of course the finished product makes no sense, it isn’t supposed to
October 17, 2017
This was really quite funny
May 4, 2021
One of the first books I vividly remember trying to read (and realizing at a much later date how very interesting it was) :)
July 17, 2020
Rabbit room press put out a beautiful leather bound edition of just The Light Princess last year. It's a great fairy tale and story to share and discuss together. The whole family enjoyed this one.
March 21, 2015
These fairy tales were probably originally intended for children, however, the vocabulary would most likely be beyond today's average young reader.
The first story, The Light Princess was an absolute delight, and in my opinion would be worth abridging for a new generation. It's earned a well deserved five stars from me. I just can't resist a story about a silly floating princess and the prince who falls in love with her.
I'm not much of a fairy tale reader, and found the second story, The Giant's Heart, too much for me. Apparently George Macdonald had no fear of spiders, but I do, no matter how good and kind they are. I couldn't finish this story.
I enjoyed the third story, The Golden Key, but I can't rate it any higher than three stars. I'm sure a fan of fairy tales would enjoy this tale of two children in fairyland much more than I.
I listened to this book on Librivox, and I'm very grateful to Clive Catteral, the narrator, who's wonderful reading gave me much additional pleasure.
The first story, The Light Princess was an absolute delight, and in my opinion would be worth abridging for a new generation. It's earned a well deserved five stars from me. I just can't resist a story about a silly floating princess and the prince who falls in love with her.
I'm not much of a fairy tale reader, and found the second story, The Giant's Heart, too much for me. Apparently George Macdonald had no fear of spiders, but I do, no matter how good and kind they are. I couldn't finish this story.
I enjoyed the third story, The Golden Key, but I can't rate it any higher than three stars. I'm sure a fan of fairy tales would enjoy this tale of two children in fairyland much more than I.
I listened to this book on Librivox, and I'm very grateful to Clive Catteral, the narrator, who's wonderful reading gave me much additional pleasure.
August 15, 2014
Listened to the Librivox.org edition.
I think moat of my enjoyment of this audiobook came from the reading by Clive Catterall. A good story paired with a good reader, well, that is something that is more than the sum of its parts. Mr. Catterall has a voice that reminds me of Neil Gaiman's in a way, and it isn't just the accent. There is this profound sense of almost child-like joy in the way he reads these stories. I liked both the title story, The Light Princess, and the second one, The Giant's Heart, but I'm afraid I can't quite make up my mind about The Golden Key. It was very interesting, but the ending left something to be desired.
I think moat of my enjoyment of this audiobook came from the reading by Clive Catterall. A good story paired with a good reader, well, that is something that is more than the sum of its parts. Mr. Catterall has a voice that reminds me of Neil Gaiman's in a way, and it isn't just the accent. There is this profound sense of almost child-like joy in the way he reads these stories. I liked both the title story, The Light Princess, and the second one, The Giant's Heart, but I'm afraid I can't quite make up my mind about The Golden Key. It was very interesting, but the ending left something to be desired.
July 28, 2011
Good, fun fairy tales, although it's clear why the other two ("The Golden Key" and "The Giant's Heart") have not remained as popular as "The Light Princess."
Of those two, "The Golden Key" was my favorite: rife with symbolism and meaning, but probably not digestible by younger children. "The Giant's Heart" was practically Grimm-like with its child-eating giant. It's a much more straight forward adventure, but if you're reading it to little ones you might want to skip over the bit where he tosses the little boy - stupid though he may be - in the pot for supper!
Of those two, "The Golden Key" was my favorite: rife with symbolism and meaning, but probably not digestible by younger children. "The Giant's Heart" was practically Grimm-like with its child-eating giant. It's a much more straight forward adventure, but if you're reading it to little ones you might want to skip over the bit where he tosses the little boy - stupid though he may be - in the pot for supper!
July 24, 2018
I read this in December, 2015 and gave it three stars. This time, with four grandchildren and me listening to Grandpa read it every evening, it took on new life. Conversations were great. Aw, the making of memories!
Finally a king and queen had a baby girl. The king's sister was forgotten in the invitation to the child's christening. In revenge the woman cast a spell on the child causing her to be unaffected by gravity. Only in water was she "normal" and it was there that she met a young prince in search of a princess to marry.
Finally a king and queen had a baby girl. The king's sister was forgotten in the invitation to the child's christening. In revenge the woman cast a spell on the child causing her to be unaffected by gravity. Only in water was she "normal" and it was there that she met a young prince in search of a princess to marry.
November 16, 2010
Fairy stories with a difference. Moral and yet with a twist that draws you in. The Golden Key still moves me to tears on the umpteenth time of reading. Faires, wizards, ogres... these fantastical creatures are vehicles used by the author to convey a world that is beyond human understanding and to convey concepts that a purely human existence cannot reflect. My own words are not enough... please read this selection of stories.
January 21, 2008
The Light Princess: So I have a thing with princess books. I swear I'm not one of those girls who goes around wearing shirts that have the word "princess" scrolled in glitter across my chest. This is a sweet allegorical story, written a long time ago by George MacDonald, who I believe C.S. Lewis was a big fan of.
May 4, 2016
This is the first MacDonald that I've read. Since I have been reading so much Lewis, Tolkien, and L'Engle over the past few years, I thought that I would give MacDonald a chance since he was such an inspiration to them (and others). I must say that I did enjoy the short stories (fairy stories) that are in this book. There's definitely some good allegory contained in them, too.
March 10, 2016
This was one of the first times I've ever laughed out loud while reading a fairy tale. The Light Princess is highly highly recommended. One of MacDonald's best stories.
June 13, 2019
I finally got around to reading George MacDonald's Princess and the Goblin books earlier this year. Before that, I had only read one other of his books, The Maiden's Bequest. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, so I wanted to keep reading MacDonald's fairy stories. Not only are they fun to get lost in but they also hold deeper meanings that I can't just get with modern literature. As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection. My only regret is that I read it during a very busy time and wished I could have been in a calmer mood to savor the stories. I recommend to fairy tale lovers and to parents/guardians who read to their children. These kinds of stories are what help children grow up to be truthful and caring individuals who seek and strive to do good. In short, they're classics - never dated, always relevant.
For a breakdown of the stories and my review on each of them, keep reading!
The Light Princess: This one is funny and lighthearted. While it is one of McDonald's more popular ones, it is not my favorite.
The Giant's Heart: My initial reaction to this one was dismay as there are some dark moments. Then I remembered fairy tales are not always candy-coated, especially ones of ago because children of ago lived in quite a different society than the current West and so the elements that may be dark to us was part of life for children. After I got over my dismay, I enjoyed the courage of the children to right a wrong.
Memorable Quote: "You're not a gentleman. You tell stories."
The Shadows: This is my least favorite. It didn't really resonate with me and this was the hardest one for me to understand.
The Caraosyn: I really liked this one – it is probably one of my favorites. It does bother me how the changeling girl kind of fades from the story and it ends a little abruptly.
Memorable Quote: "Now that's what I don't like," said the old woman. "Why do you waste words? Words should not be wasted any more than crumbs."
Little Daylight: It reminded me a little of The Light Princess and Sleeping Beauty. I liked this short story.
Memorable Quote: "Now wicked fairies will not be bound by the laws which the good fairies obey, and this always seems to give the bad the advantage over the good, for they use means to gain their ends which the others will not. But it is all of no consequence, for what they do never succeeds; nay, in the end if brings about the very thing they are trying to prevent. So you see that somehow, for all their cleverness, wicked fairies are dreadfully stupid, for, although from the beginning of the world they have really helped instead of thwarting the good fairies, not one of them is a bit the wiser for it."
Cross Purposes: This is another funny and lighthearted one that I enjoyed.
The Golden Key: I heard this was one of his deeper fairy stories, so I started reading with that thought in mind. It is indeed puzzling at first, but when I got to the end, I realized so many good messages that were told. I definitely see why this one is well-loved. This may be my favorite.
The Day Boy and Night Girl: Sadly, I read most of this one when I was tired, but the more I reflect on it, the more I like the messages conveyed. I really like how this one and Little Daylight talk about how evil always plays a part for good, unbeknownst to the evil. Also, I like Protogen and Nycteris' evolving relationship with one another to support each other when needed, admitting when they need help and shedding their selfishness to care for the other.
Memorable Quotes: "Her heart - like every heart, if only its fallen sides were cleared away - was an inexhaustible fountain of love: she loved everything she saw."
"...it made her think strange things, and wonder how even the wicked themselves may be a link to join together the good."
For a breakdown of the stories and my review on each of them, keep reading!
The Light Princess: This one is funny and lighthearted. While it is one of McDonald's more popular ones, it is not my favorite.
The Giant's Heart: My initial reaction to this one was dismay as there are some dark moments. Then I remembered fairy tales are not always candy-coated, especially ones of ago because children of ago lived in quite a different society than the current West and so the elements that may be dark to us was part of life for children. After I got over my dismay, I enjoyed the courage of the children to right a wrong.
Memorable Quote: "You're not a gentleman. You tell stories."
The Shadows: This is my least favorite. It didn't really resonate with me and this was the hardest one for me to understand.
The Caraosyn: I really liked this one – it is probably one of my favorites. It does bother me how the changeling girl kind of fades from the story and it ends a little abruptly.
Memorable Quote: "Now that's what I don't like," said the old woman. "Why do you waste words? Words should not be wasted any more than crumbs."
Little Daylight: It reminded me a little of The Light Princess and Sleeping Beauty. I liked this short story.
Memorable Quote: "Now wicked fairies will not be bound by the laws which the good fairies obey, and this always seems to give the bad the advantage over the good, for they use means to gain their ends which the others will not. But it is all of no consequence, for what they do never succeeds; nay, in the end if brings about the very thing they are trying to prevent. So you see that somehow, for all their cleverness, wicked fairies are dreadfully stupid, for, although from the beginning of the world they have really helped instead of thwarting the good fairies, not one of them is a bit the wiser for it."
Cross Purposes: This is another funny and lighthearted one that I enjoyed.
The Golden Key: I heard this was one of his deeper fairy stories, so I started reading with that thought in mind. It is indeed puzzling at first, but when I got to the end, I realized so many good messages that were told. I definitely see why this one is well-loved. This may be my favorite.
The Day Boy and Night Girl: Sadly, I read most of this one when I was tired, but the more I reflect on it, the more I like the messages conveyed. I really like how this one and Little Daylight talk about how evil always plays a part for good, unbeknownst to the evil. Also, I like Protogen and Nycteris' evolving relationship with one another to support each other when needed, admitting when they need help and shedding their selfishness to care for the other.
Memorable Quotes: "Her heart - like every heart, if only its fallen sides were cleared away - was an inexhaustible fountain of love: she loved everything she saw."
"...it made her think strange things, and wonder how even the wicked themselves may be a link to join together the good."
August 2, 2023
The light princess
Not a bad folktale as far as that goes, but with all the high praise Lewis and Tolkien give Macdonald, and its prominence as the titular story in this collection, it was underwhelming. I personally don’t like when fantasy stories refer to technology or ideas which would be anachronistic during its setting, and this had some which were not to my liking.
The giant’s heart
This felt more like an old fashioned fairie story and on those merits, I appreciated it, though it’s not necessarily my flavour of story.
The Carasoyn
Definitely a classic fairie story, though it didn’t feel especially clever due to the problems always being solved by third party involvement, and never solely on the protagonist’s wit, courage or honour.
Port in a storm
More an excuse to have a punny title than anything. It feels like a real story mixed with some kind of Dickensian flare. It was fine.
Papa’s story
I actually disliked this one. It was unpleasant to read because of its style, and was on the nose in a way my mother could appreciate, but I couldn’t enjoy.
Not a bad folktale as far as that goes, but with all the high praise Lewis and Tolkien give Macdonald, and its prominence as the titular story in this collection, it was underwhelming. I personally don’t like when fantasy stories refer to technology or ideas which would be anachronistic during its setting, and this had some which were not to my liking.
The giant’s heart
This felt more like an old fashioned fairie story and on those merits, I appreciated it, though it’s not necessarily my flavour of story.
The Carasoyn
Definitely a classic fairie story, though it didn’t feel especially clever due to the problems always being solved by third party involvement, and never solely on the protagonist’s wit, courage or honour.
Port in a storm
More an excuse to have a punny title than anything. It feels like a real story mixed with some kind of Dickensian flare. It was fine.
Papa’s story
I actually disliked this one. It was unpleasant to read because of its style, and was on the nose in a way my mother could appreciate, but I couldn’t enjoy.
July 8, 2023
1.5 stars.
Well.
I don't think I like MacDonald. I don't like his writing at all.
My copy had
The Light Princess - Fine story, but would never read again. Occasionally a clever bit here and there, but not enough to save it.
The Giant's Heart - Jack and The Beanstalk vibe. Okay.
The Golden Key - DNF.
Cross Purposes - Skimmed.
The Shadows - DNF. I just don't care, oh my gosh.
Well.
I don't think I like MacDonald. I don't like his writing at all.
My copy had
The Light Princess - Fine story, but would never read again. Occasionally a clever bit here and there, but not enough to save it.
The Giant's Heart - Jack and The Beanstalk vibe. Okay.
The Golden Key - DNF.
Cross Purposes - Skimmed.
The Shadows - DNF. I just don't care, oh my gosh.
May 3, 2020
The Year of George MacDonald is much more pleasant when I'm reading his fairy tales than when I'm trying to slog through his adult fiction. I'd read the titular story earlier this year, but this collection had four others--all of them delightful.
December 8, 2023
Reminds me of the sleeping beauty fairytale. This short story made my inner child very very happy :)
July 21, 2025
this book makes me despise most modern authors
Read
August 30, 2025Absolutely loved The Light Princess, but I found the rest to be hard to follow and got a bit bored.
October 12, 2023
I didn't learn anything from this😂
October 9, 2023
MacDonald is brilliant! Seldom have I read something that combines humor with a serious message like these stories do.
Content:
Mild violence
Content:
Mild violence
December 9, 2020
I have always loved fairy stories, from Aesops to Brother Grimm's, from Greek to Nordic myths, it's a wonder if my 10 year old self comes by one she hasn't read before. But the world of George Macdonald is one that has unfortunately passed by unnoticed. It's been 10 years since I've so to say 'grown up' from fairy tales. Though maybe- I'm once again old enough for them.
There are only three stories in this edition. I'll be jotting down some of my thoughts :)
The Light Princess:
Very odd premise. The humor doesn't sit quite right with me, it dulls the touch of magic fairy tales ought to immerse the reader in. Though I don't know much about Macdonald aside from his fictional conversations with Lewis in The Great Divorce, I can assume that this is very characteristic of him. But I can say this is the sort of story I love that would make me cry (just a little teary). Ngai had recommended Of Mice and Men before on this conversation but we do have very different frequencies for taste. I suppose she'd find this story rather silly but it's exactly the type I love.
The Giant's Heart:
Ok going to be straight. So far Macdonald's naming tendencies annoy me immensely. Let's throw out the few to get the annoyance over with: Makemnoit, Tricksy-Wee, Buffy-Bob, Tangle, and Mossy...
Anyway, this one had the air of a traditional fairy tale. Less memorable than the latter but I liked it. Albeit (warning) the bit where the giant tosses a stubborn child live into a boiling vat of soup.
The Golden Key:
My favorite of the three, it's because of this that I'm rating it 5 stars. This captures the essence of that emotion I can't put my finger on. It's one that fills you with wonder and delight but at the same time makes you want to burst into tears. Do you have a clue of what I'm talking about? It's a most wonderful feeling but holds sorrows no amount of tears can comprehend.
I wonder if this emotion is the longing Lewis alludes to when he says Macdonald baptized his imagination. I think I may be on to something, I also think that this may be the unconscious reason why I've fallen so deeply in love with Lewis' world- I feel some sort of affinity to him. How he draws the world of his imagination to the numinous, how I also want to express myself creatively as an artist and a thinker through the stories and wonders I so love.
I've never been able to describe it to myself or anyone (nor have I ever attempted) but this bit when Tangle meets the Old Man of the Fire seems to do it justice.
"And with the repose there lay on his face a shimmer as of moonlight, which seemed as if any moment it might break into such a ravishing smile as would cause the beholder to weep himself to death."
Side note, I think this is where Lewis begins formulating the idea of the shadowlands, the entire story talks of the children going up to the country whence the shadows fall. I'm also very certain it's the reason why this last story has a quality that just can't be described with words.
Also wouldn't this story make such a darn good indie game?
There are only three stories in this edition. I'll be jotting down some of my thoughts :)
The Light Princess:
Very odd premise. The humor doesn't sit quite right with me, it dulls the touch of magic fairy tales ought to immerse the reader in. Though I don't know much about Macdonald aside from his fictional conversations with Lewis in The Great Divorce, I can assume that this is very characteristic of him. But I can say this is the sort of story I love that would make me cry (just a little teary). Ngai had recommended Of Mice and Men before on this conversation but we do have very different frequencies for taste. I suppose she'd find this story rather silly but it's exactly the type I love.
The Giant's Heart:
Ok going to be straight. So far Macdonald's naming tendencies annoy me immensely. Let's throw out the few to get the annoyance over with: Makemnoit, Tricksy-Wee, Buffy-Bob, Tangle, and Mossy...
Anyway, this one had the air of a traditional fairy tale. Less memorable than the latter but I liked it. Albeit (warning) the bit where the giant tosses a stubborn child live into a boiling vat of soup.
The Golden Key:
My favorite of the three, it's because of this that I'm rating it 5 stars. This captures the essence of that emotion I can't put my finger on. It's one that fills you with wonder and delight but at the same time makes you want to burst into tears. Do you have a clue of what I'm talking about? It's a most wonderful feeling but holds sorrows no amount of tears can comprehend.
I wonder if this emotion is the longing Lewis alludes to when he says Macdonald baptized his imagination. I think I may be on to something, I also think that this may be the unconscious reason why I've fallen so deeply in love with Lewis' world- I feel some sort of affinity to him. How he draws the world of his imagination to the numinous, how I also want to express myself creatively as an artist and a thinker through the stories and wonders I so love.
I've never been able to describe it to myself or anyone (nor have I ever attempted) but this bit when Tangle meets the Old Man of the Fire seems to do it justice.
"And with the repose there lay on his face a shimmer as of moonlight, which seemed as if any moment it might break into such a ravishing smile as would cause the beholder to weep himself to death."
Side note, I think this is where Lewis begins formulating the idea of the shadowlands, the entire story talks of the children going up to the country whence the shadows fall. I'm also very certain it's the reason why this last story has a quality that just can't be described with words.
Also wouldn't this story make such a darn good indie game?
March 2, 2013
I am reviewing these stories in order of my preference from most to least favorite, although they are all quite good.
The Golden Key-I cannot begin to describe how beautiful this story is. Such a lovely little tale. I feel I shall have to read it many times to completely understand it all. The story itself is simple, two people wandering thru fairyland looking for another country where the shadows are being cast from. Yet, as I read it I feel that the story is deeper than it appears, even without trying to consciously grasp the symbolism embedded in the story. The imagery is beautiful and the characters are simple, but I love them. This will be a story I re-read many times, hopefully each time understanding more of what is truly being told.
The Light Princess-This story is also highly enjoyable, though more light-hearted in parts than some of the others. The morals of this story are fairly easy to grasp and I love the tie between physical and mental gravity. The princess cannot find her physical gravity until she learns to be serious and to feel sorrow. The love of the prince for this silly princess is a nice bit of symbolism for the love of Christ.
The Shadows-Perhaps the most creative of the stories in this collection, The Shadows tells the story of the dancing shadows on the wall that exist best by candle or firelight. It's really more a collection of stories about what the shadows do to influence the lives of people for better. The plot is not strong, but I enjoy the idea of shadows dancing to make children happy and taking on forms to encourage better behavior in adults. It also feels oddly true for anyone who what's ever experienced the contemplative effect of watching shadows.
Cross Purposes-This is a funny little tale of two children bought to fairyland to amuse the queen of the fairies. It doesn't go as planned and at the end, I cannot help but wish there was more closure to the story, still it's enjoyable. I wonder if the children will behave differently toward each other in their own world now that they have fallen in love in the fairy world.
The Giant's Heart-while this story was my least favorite in the book, that does not mean I didn't enjoy it. It feels much more like a classic fairytale, with its child-eating giant and the tricks the good characters play to win in the end.
The Golden Key-I cannot begin to describe how beautiful this story is. Such a lovely little tale. I feel I shall have to read it many times to completely understand it all. The story itself is simple, two people wandering thru fairyland looking for another country where the shadows are being cast from. Yet, as I read it I feel that the story is deeper than it appears, even without trying to consciously grasp the symbolism embedded in the story. The imagery is beautiful and the characters are simple, but I love them. This will be a story I re-read many times, hopefully each time understanding more of what is truly being told.
The Light Princess-This story is also highly enjoyable, though more light-hearted in parts than some of the others. The morals of this story are fairly easy to grasp and I love the tie between physical and mental gravity. The princess cannot find her physical gravity until she learns to be serious and to feel sorrow. The love of the prince for this silly princess is a nice bit of symbolism for the love of Christ.
The Shadows-Perhaps the most creative of the stories in this collection, The Shadows tells the story of the dancing shadows on the wall that exist best by candle or firelight. It's really more a collection of stories about what the shadows do to influence the lives of people for better. The plot is not strong, but I enjoy the idea of shadows dancing to make children happy and taking on forms to encourage better behavior in adults. It also feels oddly true for anyone who what's ever experienced the contemplative effect of watching shadows.
Cross Purposes-This is a funny little tale of two children bought to fairyland to amuse the queen of the fairies. It doesn't go as planned and at the end, I cannot help but wish there was more closure to the story, still it's enjoyable. I wonder if the children will behave differently toward each other in their own world now that they have fallen in love in the fairy world.
The Giant's Heart-while this story was my least favorite in the book, that does not mean I didn't enjoy it. It feels much more like a classic fairytale, with its child-eating giant and the tricks the good characters play to win in the end.
July 20, 2016
I very much enjoy fairy tales and retellings and I'm fairly well-read in them, but despite George MacDonald being one of the classic names in that genre, I'd never read anything by him. His writings are openly acknowledged as having influenced the work of many authors I admire — C.S. Lewis, E. Nesbit, Madeline L'Engle, G.K. Chesterston, Mark Twain, et al. — so when I realized that Project Gutenberg has several of his out-of-copyright publications up for free access, I downloaded them once and prepped my ereader for some serious reading.
Unfortunately, all in all, I really would have rather left MacDonald entirely unread. He seems to be an author far too fond of his own voice. I found his fairy stories to be ponderous moral tales, which I'm sure are fine if you like that sort of stuff: I don't. The gender and race relations made me cringe, and the introduction of Chinese buffoon characters 'Hum-Drum' and 'Kopy-Keck' nearly made me stop reading then and there. In the entirely of "The Light Princess," I found one single passage I enjoyed:
I can't speak for MacDonald's other publications, but The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories was to me an example of Victorian literature at its worst. I need to go off and reread Wee Free Men as a palate clenser. Two stars.
Quote pulled from unknown edition. Three stories made up this edition: "The Light Princess," "The Giant's Heart", and "The Golden Key."
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Unfortunately, all in all, I really would have rather left MacDonald entirely unread. He seems to be an author far too fond of his own voice. I found his fairy stories to be ponderous moral tales, which I'm sure are fine if you like that sort of stuff: I don't. The gender and race relations made me cringe, and the introduction of Chinese buffoon characters 'Hum-Drum' and 'Kopy-Keck' nearly made me stop reading then and there. In the entirely of "The Light Princess," I found one single passage I enjoyed:
The forests are very useful in delivering princes from their courtiers, like a sieve that keeps back the bran. Then the princes get away to follow their fortunes. In this they have the advantage of the princesses, who are forced to marry before they have a bit of fun. I wish our princesses got lost in a forest sometimes. [p. 15-16]The character names in "The Giant's Heart" stopped me dead as well: 'Tricksy-Wee' and 'Buffy-Bob,' seriously? "The Golden Key" was better, but I didn't like the creepy, directly stated plot point that eating sentient fish was perfectly okay because the fish turn into angels afterward.
I can't speak for MacDonald's other publications, but The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories was to me an example of Victorian literature at its worst. I need to go off and reread Wee Free Men as a palate clenser. Two stars.
Quote pulled from unknown edition. Three stories made up this edition: "The Light Princess," "The Giant's Heart", and "The Golden Key."
Recommended reviews:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 12, 2015
A popular title for a collection; you have to check the table of contents to be sure what you're getting. Me, I got "The Light Princess," "The Giant's Heart," and "The Golden Key".
The first is a light-hearted spoof-like fairy tale, where the heroine is cursed at her christening by the uninvited guests -- to lose all gravity. Both in the sense that she has no weight and that she takes nothing seriously. There's some fun and games about that before the problem gets truly serious.
The second combines a number of fairy tale motifs with a few fillips of his own, where two children are lost in the woods and happen on the title giant.
The third is a rather mythic tale of a boy who finds a golden key at the end of the rainbow, and a girl frightened from her home by fairies, and found in the forest by a wise old grandmother, and how they set out.
The first is a light-hearted spoof-like fairy tale, where the heroine is cursed at her christening by the uninvited guests -- to lose all gravity. Both in the sense that she has no weight and that she takes nothing seriously. There's some fun and games about that before the problem gets truly serious.
The second combines a number of fairy tale motifs with a few fillips of his own, where two children are lost in the woods and happen on the title giant.
The third is a rather mythic tale of a boy who finds a golden key at the end of the rainbow, and a girl frightened from her home by fairies, and found in the forest by a wise old grandmother, and how they set out.
May 12, 2017
This tiny collection (just three short stories!) somehow manages to contain my two very favorite fairy tales of all time.
The first, The Light Princess, begins with a familiar plot, but quickly progresses into something so unusual it almost seems modern. MacDonald's witty dialogue and clever narration are often laugh out loud funny, and his characters feel realistically (rather than tragically) flawed. The self-possessed princess reminds me of the heroine in The Paper Bag Princess, and the plot reminds me a little bit of Holes.
The middle story is mostly forgettable, although it still manages to subvert a fairy tale trope or two. The search for a child-eating giant's heart feels like a strange mix of English folklore and Norse mythology.
Finally, The Golden Key is a magical allegory dressed up as child's fantasy. Where The Light Princess was a tongue-in-cheek upending of the traditional fairy tale, The Golden Key is a reverent elevation of all one can be. The writing is lush and the allegory is rich. I only wish I understood more of it!
I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who loves fairy tales - especially adults!
The first, The Light Princess, begins with a familiar plot, but quickly progresses into something so unusual it almost seems modern. MacDonald's witty dialogue and clever narration are often laugh out loud funny, and his characters feel realistically (rather than tragically) flawed. The self-possessed princess reminds me of the heroine in The Paper Bag Princess, and the plot reminds me a little bit of Holes.
The middle story is mostly forgettable, although it still manages to subvert a fairy tale trope or two. The search for a child-eating giant's heart feels like a strange mix of English folklore and Norse mythology.
Finally, The Golden Key is a magical allegory dressed up as child's fantasy. Where The Light Princess was a tongue-in-cheek upending of the traditional fairy tale, The Golden Key is a reverent elevation of all one can be. The writing is lush and the allegory is rich. I only wish I understood more of it!
I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who loves fairy tales - especially adults!
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