Children’s Fantasy

MacDonald is best remembered as the creator of beloved fantasies and fairy tales. He once declared, “I write, not for children, but for the child-like, whether they be of five, or fifty, or seventy-five.”

The Princess and the Goblin - my all-time favorite book! A story full of adventure and delight as a miner boy named Curdie befriends and rescues a young princess. Also the most profound parable of faith ever written. (Read it to see if I’m overstating!) G. K. Chesterton said that this story, which had been read to him in the nursery, was a book which “made a difference to my whole existence, which helped me to see things in a certain way from the start.” This eBook contains images.

At the Back of the North Wind - story about a cab horse in Victorian London and, especially, the cabman’s son. This innocent yet perceptive boy encounters a glorious, trusted-but-terrifying, lovely lady named North Wind who takes him on her journeys, teaching him about life and death. Full of poverty, poetry, wise faith, and wonder. MacDonald’s most published work. This eBook contains images.

The Lost Princess (or The Wise Woman) - a feast for the imagination and also a story with profound insight into character-building and parenting. A woman of mysterious powers pays visits to two very different young girls — one is a princess and one ... well, read and find out! This eBook contains images.

David Elginbrod - story of a father who could not be wiser or nobler, a daughter blossoming into true womanhood, and, especially, a young tutor. A clever mystery lies at the heart of the story. Book’s first section contains dialogue in broad Scots which at times seems a completely different language; this edition gives definitions ^{in gray-blue superscript} of some words difficult to deduce. Updated (Nov 2021)

Ranald Bannerman’s Boyhood - story of a young boy growing up in a Scottish manse. Through the help of many memorable characters and many misadventures, Ranald learns needed lessons of friendship and integrity. A New York reviewer wrote in 1871 that the book is “full of boy-life and true goodness.” Largely taken from autobiographical incidents, it presents MacDonald’s boyhood in fictional form. This eBook contains many images.

Stephen Archer - short story (perhaps 16 pages) on the transformation of an earnest young bookseller in Dickensian England. Gives a quick taste of many MacDonald themes: the experience of hopeless poverty, a person awakening to healthy spirituality (and life!), and a woman as the wise one.

What’s Mine’s Mine - story of two young men who are brothers, one the chief or macruadh of their once-mighty but now impoverished clan, and two young women who are wealthy sisters from the south. Readers get a vivid glimpse of life in MacDonald’s beloved rugged Scottish highlands in the mid-1800's. Also of sweet romance; and deepening character and spirituality—“Am I willing to let what is mine be God’s?”

Robert Falconer - story of a good-hearted, perceptive Scottish boy searching for his father and for a God of love amid the stern religion of his grandmother. Written in 1868 and largely autobiographical, the book gives a vivid description of Scotland and London in that time. Like all of MacDonald’s works, everything is permeated by a mysterious sense of another reality, and we gain much true spiritual and practical insight as we follow Robert’s discoveries and friendships.
Much dialogue is in broad Scots with some words difficult to deduce; this edition gives some definitions ^{in superscript} — unsightly but handy.

Castle Warlock: A Homely Romance - story of young Cosmo, heir of the once proud and mighty but now impoverished Warlock family in the harsh Scottish Highlands. We see true goodness embodied as the boy becomes a man, full of love for his ancestral land, the homely castle and, most of all, his noble father. Plot builds on an unfolding tale of a murdered sea captain in the family and an unexpected visit of a lovely young lady.
Much dialogue is in broad Scots with some words difficult to deduce; this edition gives a few definitions ^{in superscript} — unsightly but handy.

The Elect Lady - story of Alexa, whose father has inherited a large, ancient Scottish estate. We watch love triangles build and resolve, wonder if ones consumed with riches can choose redemption. MacDonald’s God-breathed, practical wisdom shines through it all, particularly in the words and actions of a poor, godly poet-farmer and a valued servant girl—and the memorable description of their friendship as children.
Occasional dialogue in broad Scots can have words difficult to deduce; this edition gives a few definitions ^{in superscript} — unsightly but handy.
This edition also trims many sentences that seemed too thick. (At least my wife and I couldn’t understand them!) Trimmed text was kept in HTML comments, visible if one views the HTML source code.

Weighed and Wanting - story of a Victorian era London family and the memorable circle of people around them. The daughter Hester is drawn both to her fashionable suitor and to friends among the city’s downtrodden. MacDonald, ever the insightful observer of life, narrates the family’s trials and triumphs in vivid depth, interlacing his descriptions with gems of sound wisdom and spiritual truth.
This edition also trims many sentences that seemed too thick. (At least my wife and I couldn’t understand them!) Trimmed text was kept in HTML comments, visible if one views the HTML source code.

Wilfrid Cumbermede - a first-person narration by a man explaining his life and actions. We watch him as a young boy being shaped in mind and character. And witness his choices and conversations as a young man. An ancient Scottish castle, plus a secret involving many sub-plots and reversals, weaves through his life story. A love interest ends in frustration—or does it?!
This edition also trims many sentences that seemed too thick. (At least my wife and I couldn’t understand them!) Trimmed text was kept in HTML comments, visible if one views the HTML source code.

Far Above Rubies - delightful story of Hector, a young poet, and Annie, a rare young woman of worth “far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). A novella not broken into chapters, this is MacDonald’s final work—a year after its publication, a stroke silenced this remarkable literary genius and man of God.
This edition also trims phrases that seemed too thick—I couldn’t understand them—while trying to preserve MacDonald’s profound asides that we love. Trimmed text was kept in HTML comments, visible if one views the HTML source code.

St George and St Michael - MacDonald’s one historical novel, set in the last castle loyal to the crown in the 1640s as Puritans and Royalists contend over the future of England—and as a young man and a young woman struggle over loyalties and feelings for each other. A story of intrigue, nobility, treachery, and gladness, told with vivid, poetic description. It will delight all who enjoy wise and good-hearted characters complete with foibles and uniqueness.
This edition also trims many phrases that felt thick and hard to follow—while working to keep MacDonald’s profound asides that we love. (Trimmed text was kept in HTML comments, visible if one views the HTML source code.)

Malcolm - a story full of mystery, hatred, spiritual insight, and goodness. A woman is buried in an old Scottish sea town. Did her life in some way bear on that of Malcolm, a well-loved, strong, noble-hearted youth? On the one who raised him—a blind piper with sixth sense and an ancient vendetta? On the lovely, free-spirited daughter of the marquis who captivates him?
Dialogue in broad Scots often includes words difficult to deduce; so some definitions are placed in the text^{in blue superscript}—untidy but convenient.
This edition trimmed occasional phrases that seemed impossibly thick (trimmed text is visible as HTML comments when one views the source code of the “read in browser” versions).

The Marquis of Lossie - story of a splendid young man with a secret identity trying to do right by his half-sister and the villages under his care. Set in Victorian London and a fishing village in northern Scotland. Love and redemption interweaves with love triangles, intrigue, and wealthy heiresses. Characters awaken to the power of nature and new understandings of faith and humanity. Sequel to Malcolm.
Dialogue in broad Scots often includes words difficult to deduce; so some definitions are placed in the text^{in blue superscript}—untidy but convenient.
This edition trimmed occasional phrases that seemed impossibly thick (trimmed text is visible as HTML comments when one views the source code of the “read in browser” versions).

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