Editorial Review

As always with George MacDonald, everything here is more than meets the eye: this in fact is MacDonald's grace-filled vision of the world. Said to be one of J.R.R. Tolkien's childhood favorites, Read more

Reviews (34)

Wonderful storytelling and story
This is a story you must read to your children.The author inspired C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and you will learn why (if you're a fan of Narnia and The Ring Trilogy) when you enjoy this book.Good read!Great to read by the fire.Children will be enthralled.

One fabulous book
This book kept my 12 year old girl on her toes. It is very exciting, and at some points made her cry. She really recommends this book to anyone. It is a good family story. She really enjoyed it. [as dictated to Dad]

The movie...?
The book is good, I liked the ending, but I definately know that the movie is WAY worse than the book. I shun those who made the movie, and hope that the writer realized that the people who he let make this film did a terrible job. I hope those who made the movie are reincarnated so that they are actually GOOD at what they do, so that everyone doesn't have to suffer through another one of these horrible movies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Classic fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Subjects:  1. Adventure stories    2. Classic fiction    3. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure    4. Juvenile Fiction-Classics   

Reviews (9)

Religious themes are too heavy handed
I love religious themes in children's literature, but The Princess and Curdie got too preachy for me.I really disliked the resolution with its Bosch-like vision of the torments experienced by sinners--it had that feeling of titallation.And the ending?How depressing and slapped on it seems!There's plenty of other fantastical, well-written literature that wrestles with moral dilemmas.I won't be including this in my library of children's books.

A good book, but missing the innocence of the 1st book
George MacDonald once again delivers a magical book, filled with adventure and meaning, a delight to read.In this book, MacDoanld shows belief in the extraordinary.Muiltiple times, the great-great-Grandmother does something which requires action which seems to go against worldly reason.MacDonald, I think, is showing that we do not do the will of God in SPITE of reason, but BECAUSE of it.At one point, the Grandmother commands Curdie to plunge his hands into her fire, which Curdie does at once.At first glance, it appears that this is done in spite of reason, for who finds it reasonable to burn themselves?On the second glance, perhaps, we see that it is done, not in a lapse into an irrational leap of faith, but becaue Curdie has good REASON to beleive that the Grandmother knows what is best.In the same way, when God wants us to do something which seems rediculous to worldly reason, it look to the world as if we have abandoned reason and take a leap of faith.Just as in Curdie's case, this is incorrect.We do the will of God, not irrationally, but because we have good reason to believe that God knows what is best, and will keep His promises.
"I Have Been Trying to Cultivate Your Family Tree..."
"The Princess and the Goblin" is one of the gems of children's literature, which deserves to sit on any bookshelf. The same can not be said of its sequel "The Princess and Curdie", which differs so much in tone and content from the original, that it is sometimes difficult to remember it is in fact a sequel to the dreamy, beautiful "The Princess and the Goblin". Don't get me wrong, I love George MacDonald's wonderful books, and although there are some nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout the book and Irene's grandmother is as fascinating as ever (as well as being one of the few feminine representations of Christian mysticism in children's literature) this particular MacDonald novel left me a little cold.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    6. Classic fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (5)

A charming tale with lessons for children of all ages.
The 'Wise Woman' is my favorite fairy tale of all time.George MacDonald is wonderfully creative, pulls in just enough 'magic' to be interesting but not confusing, and builds strong characters.The tale has a very strong moral content which goes almost unnoticed by the strength of the story and its characters.I certainly recommend this for young people but I am a 'Senior Citizen' and still find it delightful and a bit thought provoking.
Parenting Guidelines
I loved this story about the Wise Woman.In a fairytale format, it depicted the consequences of bad behavior while at the same time, showed the positive side of doing the right thing. Great story for kids and parents.

CLASSIC--SUPERB
The standout of this collection is the title story, "The Wise Woman, or, The Obstinate Princess." The princess in question is Rosamund, whose royal parents have spoiled her absolutely rotten. In fact, they aresick of her, she's so disgustingly violent and selfish (thanks largely totheir 'care'). Enter the Wise Woman, who steals Rosamund away underneathher voluminous cloak and takes Rosamund to her cottage, which is miles awayfrom nowhere--and bigger on the inside than the outside. Here, for thefirst time, Rosamund begins to learn that her wishes are not what the worldrevolves around. Very slowly. Before that happens, however, she entersanother world through a picture and takes the place of another spoiledbrat, Agnes, daughter of a shepherd and shepherdess. Agnes takes Rosamund'splace. The Wise Woman does her best to save both girls, whose (toparaphrase Burke) intemperate minds mean that they cannot be free; theirpassions have forged their fetters. I can't tell you how the story ends,however. You'll have to find out for yourself. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children's stories, English    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. England    5. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Collections by Author    6. Fairy tales    7. Short stories    8. Classic fiction    9. Fantasy    10. Science fiction   

Editorial Review

The fact that George MacDonald--a scholar as well as a preacher and writer--once read this fairy tale to his students instead of giving them a lecture says volumes about the man and his beliefs. It also says much about his faith in the power of stories. Read more

Reviews (11)

A nice story for young children
This fairy tale by George MacDonald is about a charming, but bewitched Princess, a Prince in disguise, some nice fairies, and one very bad one.It is easy to like the main characters.Children will enjoy the fact that the adults are rather foolish and even the bad witch is not really scary.This is a nice story for parents to read to young children and then discuss behaviors and conduct.
Pocket edition of classic tale
This review will only cover the basics:
Light Princess: good but not great
Once I heard about The Light Princess, I ordered it because I buy everything by Robin McKinley, and I have a soft spot for George MacDonald (The Princess and the Goblin). I have not read the original of this, but wanted to see how McKinley would rewrite a classic tale.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales   

Editorial Review

This is a story of a poor stable boy living in Victorian London in which everyday lives are mysteriously enveloped by a power and a glory, personified here as a beautiful woman known as the North Wind. She visits the small boy, Diamond, and takes him with her on her journeys, teaching him about herself. Through the eyes of an innocent and yet perceptive child, MacDonald explores North Wind as a way of exploring the place of death in our lives. He looks squarely at social injustice--he knew poverty and the poor first hand--and yet also sees that the deepest need we have is for love and forgiveness, which are rooted in eternity.Read more

Reviews (17)

Incredibly Boring!
After reading and loving his "The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie",I thought this would be a joy as well. I was wrong! I tried to like it. I read about 75 pages and had to give up. I could detect no plot,no point at all and it seemed to be going nowhere,all he did was fly around with the North Wind,and they chatted about nothing of any interest or importance. This is the worst book that it has been my misfortune to come across in a very long time,and only the second,that I ever remember closing and giving up on. Read the other two,but forget this one!

The Magic of MacDonald's Fairy Tale
I am quite ready to add At the Back of the North Wind to my collection of masterpieces that shall remain close to me, I suspect, my entire life. While a collection of favorite books by C. S. Lewis' site largest on that shelf, At the Back of the North Wind will be the second book by George MacDonald to join them. This seems quite appropriate as Lewis himself held MacDonald in such high esteem, even calling him his `master.' While more childish than Phantastes, At the Back of the North Wind manages to enchant my imagination in the same way that Narnia always has, while upon first inspection the tale may seem to be of little substance to a more mature audience I think there is subtle depth hidden within the deceptively simple child whom the story centers upon.
Diamond is someone you can admire
This is a 299 paged fiction book.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. Juvenile Fiction   

Reviews (7)

Rehashed
I was disappointed because I thought I was getting fairy tales edited by MacDonald.Instead, this is a compilation of other works which I already had like Northwind, Light Princess, Golden Key etc.If you don't have these already, this edition will probably be a great source for them.

Wonderful book!
This is a delightful book -- the first by MacDonald that I have read.The reading of these short fairy tales prompted me to order 3 of his longer stories as well.

Poor edition
A poor edition of this beautiful work. Binding and paper quality are not as expected considering the high price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Anthologies    3. Fiction    4. Classic fiction    5. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories   

Reviews (14)

Water
This book is like a drink of the freshest, clearest water on the brightest, bluest spring day you can imagine.It was lovely every step of the way, somehow beautifully sad and wonderful at the same time.With the aid of the creatures of fairyland, mistreated Tangle and adventuresome Mossy go on an enchanting journey which takes them straight through to a wisdom and sense of wonderment that is somehow greater than that found in adulthood (or childhood).George MacDonald truly had an eye for the worlds of fairy, and an unsurpassed talent for expressing beauty in all things.The stories are not always meant to be understood, but deep in that inner place in one's heart, they make sense.

The talent for loving
An earlier reviewer mentioned the difficulty of understanding the imagery of the story and another suggested (perhaps rightly) that the golden key represents Christ.C.S. Lewis believed it represented "the talent for loving", and having read the book numerous times, especially to nephews and nieces, I agree.Without giving away too much, notice the differences between Mossy's and Tangle's journey after their separation (physical death), especially how they saw the Old Man of the Sea.One might need to have read more of MacDonald's works (especially Unspoken Sermons) to get at his view of how love affects our ability to "see". His "At the Back of the North Wind" contains another wonderful example when North Wind explains to Diamond why she had to appear as a dreadful wolf to an old woman.

Read this little story...
the tale of tangle and mossy, two child like creatures on the adventure of the ages. alone - together - parting - re-uniting, until which is which becomes forgotten and un-threatening, and best; so unimportant. Simply, this is The Best Fairey Tale I have ever read.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fairy tales   

Reviews (2)

Maybe his finest children's work.
I love this book. I've read it 3 times, all as an adult. The fragility of life is portrayed in the person of little Diamond, an innocent, sickly child. Though MacDonald is occasionally preachy, (yet on target), he writes a story that will fill you with wonder and sorrow.
beautiful in its simplicity
This book reminded me a great deal of "The Little Prince" by Antoine Saint-Exubery, the main difference being that the underlying philosophy here is Christian, as opposed to the Easternish philosophy of the former book.Like "The Little Prince", it speaks quietly and simply of things that are so true we tend to overlook or forget them.Unlike the mentioned book, this one brings in harsher elements, such as poverty and abuse -- and shows how the simple wisdom of a child can overcome them.MacDonald's imagination is wonderful, and some of the dreams and fairy tales in the book almost outshine the "real" story.I love the children who dig for stars.This is one I enjoyed because it is so different, so simple and beautiful, and one I look forward to sharing with my children, should I ever have any. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Single Title    3. Fairy tales    4. Fiction - General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Social Issues - General    7. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Reviews (3)

A Wonderful Story Especially for the Young Adult.
George MacDonald is the master when it comes to communicating the beauty and power of Nature. He has a deep appreciation for the transcendant meaning and purpose which God infuses into Nature by His very characterwhich is ever-present Love. And because man is made in God's image, he isable to experience in the deepest way possible the all-present Love of God.A God who is always seeking to sympathize with and redeem the men and womenHe created. A joy to read.
A young boy with no advantages, as this world counts them, in seeking goodness, went on to discover that doing right, as God counts right, is the best reward. A wonderful book.

I loved it and so did our children :)
We read this aloud to our family and ALL loved it. We think the author is the best ever. Most of his books are Scottish and C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolken both claimed him as their mentor! GET IT ! :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child witnesses    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Religious    4. Highlands (Scotland)    5. Mute persons    6. Orphans    7. Religious   

Reviews (1)

A beautiful character portrayed!
Being a disciple of C. S. Lewis, I wanted to read from George MacDonald--an author who is known to have influenced Lewis.Read more

Subjects:  1. Child witnesses    2. Classics    3. Fiction    4. Friendship    5. Highlands (Scotland)    6. Literature - Classics / Criticism    7. Mute persons    8. Romance - Historical    9. Romance: Historical   

Reviews (2)

The tale beautifully stresses moral values of love and piety
Sir Gibbie is an exquisitely written children's classic, depicting in poetic,vivid detail a country of lush beauty as viewed from the eyes of a small city waif, whose father has perished, leaving his young son with nothing more than a full, loving heart; a gracious, generous nature; and a warm, open personality bent on doing good for others by every means in his power.The adventures of the ill-clad child begin as he travels the open road, in response to his father's constant words "Up Daurside!", where he befriends the herdboy Donal, is taken in by his parents, Robert and Janet Grant, and rescues the young lady Ginevra from a natural catastrophe.Sweet, tender Gibbie automatically floats into one's heart as one follows him from town vagrant to benevolent gentleman, and remains there long after the book's pages are closed.His growing awareness of the world in both materialistic and spiritual matters holds the reader captivated.Geroge Macdonald has compos! ed a nineteenth century storyin true Scottish style, where one may observe everything in the universe from the grace of the mountaintops to the wonder of human beings through innocence, peace, and love.Written in an almost angelic manner, Sir Gibbie transports one to the realm where nature and piety and loveliness are intertwined, and produces a magical air which no one can fail but love, and desire to experience over and over again.

Enchanting story of a seemingly destitute Scottish orphan
The author, George MacDonald, was a prolific Scottish writer who lived from 1824 to 1905. He knew Mark Twain, Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll. He was the favorite author of C.S. Lewis (author of the Narnia books). This book is thought by many to have provided inspiration and several plot elements for Twain's "Huckleberry Finn". It is an excellent story and is especially good as a read-aloud. The adventures of this ragged, barefoot street urchin as he finds his destiny are truly compelling. Little Gibbie is mute (unable to speak) but has a heart of gold and his greatest joy lies in helping others. After the tragic death of his titled but penniless father, Gibbie is the horror-stricken witness to a violent murder. His faith in humanity shaken, he flees the city in hopes of discovering a new life in the highlands. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Fiction    3. Friendship    4. General    5. Highlands (Scotland)    6. Juvenile fiction    7. Literature (Young Adult)    8. Mutism    9. Orphans   

Reviews (1)

Pretty "Princess"
It's a credit to "Princess and the Goblin" that its author was a personal favorite (and shaping influence) to fantasy titans C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. But if their liking for George MacDonald's works isn't enough to impress, then take it just for what it is: A creepy, unique, compelling work of early fantasy.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Fairy tales    5. General    6. Horror & Ghost Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

HE "BAPTIZIES THE IMAGINATION WITH GOODNESS"
This quaint but charming tale is by the beloved and respected Scottish storyteller, George MacDonald (At the back of the North Wind.) Originally titled, "My Uncle Peter" this Victorian Christmas story was published in 1870 and recounts the heart-tugging adventures of a badly-abused street urchin who is adopted by a kindly gentlemen, then viciously, greedily kidnapped.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Christian life    4. Christmas    5. Fiction    6. Holidays & Festivals - Christmas    7. Orphans   

Reviews (1)

Little Daylight--- review
Illustrations are magnificant,the story is different from every day fairy tales too. It's a must have! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fairy tales    4. General   

Reviews (4)

Great shorter tales by one of the best 19th Century fantasists
George MacDonald was one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest, 19th Century fantasist, and a key influence on C. S. Lewis. He was a Unitarian minister, and much of his fiction was essentially religious. I am particularly fond of his children's novels, At the Back of the North Wind, The Princess and the Goblin, and The Princess and Curdie. He also wrote adult novels, most importantly Phantastes and Lilith.
A little known gem by a master storyteller
I too was first introduced to George MacDonald by way of CS. Lewis. A friend gave me this book, "for recreation" during my busy final term in college- and it has become one of the most highly prized works in my collection. This series of short stories and fairy tales will enchant anyone who already loves Hans Christian Anderson or delights in "wonder" tales, and anyone looking for fresh parables and expressions of Christian faith.
Rich Reading
The stories in this volume are so original and intriguing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Religious - Fantasy    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Christian fiction    4. Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology    5. Fairy tales    6. Fantasy fiction, Scottish    7. Fiction    8. Scotland    9. Scottish Novel And Short Story    10. Christianity   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful and Warm-hearted Fantasy
This is a wonderful book, containing four beautiful and soul-touching stories.But now it's out of print!I had lent the book to a friend, who mislaid it -- but thankfully he found it, and returned it to me today!Thestories are classic and universal, and I am deeply disappointed withEerdmans for discontinuing this title. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children's stories, English    3. England    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Collections by Author    5. Fairy tales    6. Fantasy    7. Short stories    8. Classic fiction    9. Horror & ghost stories   

Reviews (2)

George MacDonald's best!
I have read other books by George MacDonald, some of which were translted by Micheal Philips, and this one is by far the best, though they are all great!Micheal Philips translates George MacDonald best out of the translaters that I have come across.George is the best author I've ever came across.

duplicate book
This book is the exact same book (same editor, even same forward) as 'The Maiden's Bequest'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Friendship    5. General    6. Scotland   

Features

• Audiobook
• MP3 Audio

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Classics    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Children's Audio / 9/12    8. Juvenile Fiction / Classics    9. Juvenile Fiction/Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Classic fiction    3. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories