The Princess and the Goblin

Publisher Marketing: Said to be one of J. R. R. Tolkien's childhood favorites, this book tells the story of the young Princess Irene, her good friend Curdie--a minor's son--and Irene's mysterious and beautiful great great grandmother, who lives in a secret room at the top of the castle stairs. Princess Irene lives in a castle with her elusive great-great grandmother and her nanny. When she and her friend Curdie discover that a local race of Goblins is planning an attack on humans, they search for a way to stop it. Filled with images of dungeons and goblins, mysterious fires, burning roses, and a thread so fine as to be invisible and yet--like prayer--strong enough to lead the Princess back home to her grandmother's arms, this is a story of Curdie's slow realization that sometimes, as the princess tells him, "you must believe without seeing." Simple enough for reading aloud to a child, it's rich enough to repay endless delightful readings for the adult. Contributor Bio:  MacDonald, George George MacDonald was a Scottish author and minister best known for his fairy tales and fantasy novels. A theologian, MacDonald was pastor of Trinity Congregational Church in Arundel before moving to London to teach at the University of London. MacDonald's work influenced many fantasy writers including J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle; he is recognized as a mentor to Lewis Carroll and heavily influenced Carroll's decision to submit Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for publication. MacDonald was a prolific writer, and penned such fantasy classics as Phantastes, The Princess and the Goblin, and Lillith. George MacDonald died in 1905.