The Princess and the Goblin (Puffin Classics)
by George Macdonald

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Book Reviews of The Princess and the Goblin (Puffin Classics)

Book Review: Love Narnia? You�ll love this!
Summary: 5 Stars

The Princess and the Goblin features a heroine  a princess called Irene  and a hero  a simple miners son called Curdie. While working overtime in the mines to earn money to buy his mother a red petty-coat, Curdie chances upon the goblins who live in the mountain, and discovers that they are hatching an evil plot against the king and his palace. Meanwhile the princess makes a discovery of her own  high in the castle she finds a wonderful old lady who is her great-great-grandmother. The problem is, nobody else knows of her grandmother, and nobody believes her. But the princess does believe, and it is by her faith in her grandmother and the magic thread that she receives from her, that she is able to rescue Curdie. Together they rescue the entire palace from disaster at the hands of the goblins.

In telling the story, MacDonald has an enchanting conversational style, wonderfully suitable for reading aloud to enraptured children  an ability perfecting in telling stories to his own eleven children. But The Princess and the Goblin is more than just a story. Before pursuing a literary career, MacDonald was a Congregationalist minister, and so integrates important underlying Christian themes. Believing in the great-great-grandmother despite the fact that many cannot see her, is a symbol of believing in God. MacDonald uses this to show how the Christian faith involves believing without seeing, and that not everyone has to see something for it to be true. The grandmothers lamp and magic thread are the guides on which the princess must depend, much like the Word which is a lamp on our path. It may sound tacky, but it works.

Children are not likely to grasp the deeper underlying themes that MacDonald is working with. Nonetheless the story has a clear message for children. The clear conflict between the royal powers of light against the goblin powers of darkness is unmistakable. Moreover, the princess is presented as a model of virtue, and MacDonald frequently asserts the importance of moral virtues such as always telling the truth, keeping your word, and admitting your faults  moral virtues that are equally important for princes and princesses of Gods kingdom. Courage, honesty, grace, dignity and beauty are timeless ideals for children of all times to strive for. If you love Narnia, youre sure to like this one, and youll find yourself quickly grabbing the sequel, The Princess and Curdie. The Princess and the Goblin was one of J.R.R. Tolkiens childhood favorites, highly regarded by C.S. Lewis, described by W.H. Auden as the only English childrens book in the same class as the Alice books, and generally considered as a classic example of nineteenth century childrens literary fairy tales. So if you havent yet read this book, its about time you did. With admirers such as Tolkien, Lewis and Auden, if you become a MacDonalds admirer youll find yourself in good company!

Summary of The Princess and the Goblin (Puffin Classics)

Classics by Age Books

• Books > Subjects > Children's Books
• Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy & Magic
• Science Fiction & Fantasy