Princess Irene and Curdie

Eight-year-old Princess Irene lives a lonely life in a castle in a wild, desolate, mountainous kingdom, with only her nursemaid, Lootie for company. Her father the king is normally absent attending to affairs of state, and her mother is dead. Irene has never known about the existence of the goblins which lurk in the underground mines but her nursemaid Lootie does know about them.

A Foundational Fairy Tale by Master of the Genre, George MacDonald. 'Seeing is not believing, it is only seeing.' The Princess and the Goblin is a charming fairy tale of a young girl who sets out for adventure, meets a young miner boy, and helps save the kingdom from destruction by Goblins. Beneath the simple story is Christian symbolism and imaginative writing. Many writers, such as C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Madeleine L'Engle, and Lewis Carroll have been influenced by George MacDonald and The Princess and the Goblin.

First published in 1872 by the famed and beloved Scottish author George MacDonald, "The Princess and the Goblin" is a classic and widely influential children's fantasy novel. It is the story of the young and lonely Princess Irene who lives in a large castle in a desolate land with only her nursemaid for company. One day while exploring her castle home, Princess Irene finds a secret stairway in the castle, discovers her great-great-grandmother living in a secret chamber, and is introduced to a new magical world. Princess Irene begins to explore her world outside of the castle, discovers the existence of goblins, whom she was unaware lived nearby, and is rescued from danger by a young miner named Curdie. He and Princess Irene quickly become friends and have more adventures discovering magic and avoiding the violent goblins. When Curdie is captured by the goblins and overhears a plot to kidnap the Princess and flood the King's mine he is challenged to foil the nefarious plan of the goblins and save the Princess. A masterpiece of children's literature and a touching story of courage and loyalty, "The Princess and the Goblin" is a timeless treasure. This edition include a biographical afterword.

The Princess and the Goblin is a beloved children's classic written by George MacDonald. C. S. Lewis sites Macdonald as one of his inspirations. This gentle story takes us to a simpler time and place where Princess Irene and her best friend Curdie must save the kingdom from an evil Goblin plot. Join them as they outwit the Goblins and save the day.

As editor of the magazine Good Words for the Young, MacDonald had a ready audience for "fairy tale" and "children's" stories, and produced some of his most famous titles during this period of his writing life. The third of his stories for the magazine, The Princess and the Goblin, published in 1872, is universally acclaimed as MacDonald's best pure fairy tale, and has been enchanting readers for well over a century. This story of princess Irene, her mysterious ageless namesake "grandmother," and miner's son Curdie surely provided inspiration for C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. G.K. Chesterton wrote of it in 1924,

A great influence on Lewis Carroll, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L'Engle, Scottish author George MacDonald wrote this beloved fantasy in 1872. Princess Irene is given a magical ring by her great-great-grandmother, who lives in a secret room in her father's palace. Curdie, a boy who works in the mines, learns that the goblins who live underground intend to kidnap Irene and marry her off to the goblin prince. As events unfold, a thread attached to Irene's ring connecting her to Curdie may be the only thing that will bring them both safely home ...

With only her nurse, Lootie, for company, Princess Irene leads a lonely and sheltered life in her mountainous kingdom. She is unaware that goblins live in the underground mines, or that they are planning a war against those who live above the ground. With her new, plucky friend Curdie and the help of her otherworldly great-great-grandmother, Princess Irene hatches a plan to defeat the goblins and save her kingdom. Published in 1872, George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin has been translated into numerous languages and has been adapted for film and television, most notably as part of the popular Fractured Fairy Tales series in the 1960s.

The Princess and the Goblin is beloved children's classic written by George MacDonald. C. S. Lewis sites Macdonald as one of his inspirations. This gentle story takes us to a simpler time and place where Princess Irene and her best friend Curdie must save the kingdom from a evil Goblin plot. Join them as they outwit the Goblins and save the day.

A mysterious silver-haired woman and a brave young miner help prevent a mischievous pack of subterranean creatures from kidnapping a little princess and flooding the passageways of a mine. An unabridged classic of juvenile fiction from a master storyteller offers youngsters thrill-packed entertainment along with valuable lessons about bravery and loyalty.

Full of exquisite moonlit scenes that play out like dreams and underground escapades descending into nightmare, this is a must-read for all fantasy aficionados and fans of Tolkien, Lewis, and RowlingEight-year-old Princess Irene lives a lonely life in a wild, desolate, mountainous kingdom, with only her nursemaid Lootie for company. She is protected from the outside world and oblivious to the existence of goblins, hideous creatures that live underground and only come out at night. One day, while out walking, Irene and Lootie get lost. As night falls, strange shadows creep out from under boulders and around corners, closing in on them. Terrified, they try to run but the goblins give chase. It is then they run into Curdie, the brave miner's son who knows how to scare the goblins away. He leads the pair to safety, back to the castle. While working late one night in the mines Curdie overhears the goblins' diabolical plan. The terrible goblin Queen plans to kidnap the princess and force her to marry her son, so humans will be forced to accept goblins as their rulers. Can they be stopped and the kingdom be saved before it is too late? Before the creation of Middle Earth or Narnia, George MacDonald was inventing wonderful kingdoms and populating them with magical creatures and enchanted beings, such as this unique, compelling fantasy.

Princess Irene lives in a large castle with only servants for company, with her father the king away often on royal business. One night, the princess and her nursemaid Lootie run afoul of nasty goblins and are saved by a young miner named Curdie. Curdie and Irene find themselves in frequent need of each other from that very moment, most of all when Curdie discovers that the goblins plan to kidnap the princess. Add in one beautiful fairy grandmother and The Princess and the Goblin more than earns its reputation as a classic fantasy tale for all ages.

The sequel to The Princess and the Goblin from the Victorian-era Scottish author who influenced C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L'Engle. A year or two after the adventures of The Princess and the Goblin, a group of corrupt ministers are plotting to poison the king, Princess Irene's father. Curdie, a mineworker and loyal friend, joins forces with Princess Irene to stop them

The Princess and Curdie are back in this sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. Princess Irene and Curdie are a year or two older, and must overthrow a set of corrupt ministers who are poisoning Irene's father, the king. Irene's grandmother is also back and she gives Curdie a strange gift and a monster called Lina to help him on his quest. A wonderful tale of adventure and courage.

"The Princess and Curdie" is Scottish author George MacDonald's 1883 sequel to his classic children's fairy tale "The Princess and the Goblin". In this beautiful and exciting tale, the reader finds Princess Irene and Curdie a year or two older. Life has returned to normal for Irene and Curdie until they must overthrow a set of corrupt ministers who are poisoning Irene's father, the king. When Curdie finally meets Irene's mysterious and magical Grandmother, he is sent off on a quest with a strange dog-like creature named Lina, who was once human, to help save Irene's father and the kingdom. Curdie is at first wary of this odd and ugly creature, but he soon finds that Lina is the most loyal friend he could have wished for on this dangerous adventure as the creature saves his life numerous times. Curdie once again shows his bravery and loyalty, and with help from Irene's powerful grandmother, he risks his own life to save Irene and her sickly father from the evil plot. A classic tale of fantasy, "The Princess and Curdie" is one of George MacDonald's most magical and exciting children's tales. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

The Sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. 'Remember, then, that whoever does not mean good is always in danger of harm. But I try to give everybody fair play, and those that are in the wrong are in far more need of it always than those who are in the right, they can afford to do without it.' In this fantasy adventure story, Princess Irene and her friend Curdie must save the king by challenging his poisoning ministers. Filled with magic and wisdom, The Princess and Curdie is a fairy tale story with surprising depth that makes for a lovely read aloud to children.

Princess Irene and her father go to Gwyntystorm, while Curdie stays at home with his mother and father. As the years go by, Curdie begins to hunt for pleasure. He also slowly begins to doubt Irene's story of her great-great grandmother. One day, he shoots down a white pigeon. Curdie then remembers Irene's tale of her grandmother's pigeons, assumes the one he has shot down was one of them, and becomes aware of his folly. A light appears at the roof of the castle, and Curdie follows it. There, Curdie meets the old Princess, who appears small and withered, contrary to Irene's descriptions.

The Princess and Curdie are back in this sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. Princess Irene and Curdie are a year or two older, and must overthrow a set of corrupt ministers who are poisoning Irene's father, the king. Irene's grandmother is also back and she gives Curdie a strange gift and a monster called Lina to help him on his quest. A wonderful tale of adventure and courage.

This story is a sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, but this second "Curdie" installment, published in 1882, is far more than a mere "children's story." The themes and linguistic style of The Princess and Curdie are considerably more advanced, and the depth of its spiritual analogies extensive in subtlety and scope. After being thrust into the rose-fire, the discerning gift of Curdie's hand to know toward what any man or woman is growing (beast or child), is one of MacDonald's most memorable, though chilling, images. It is a theme that became profoundly illuminated in later years by MacDonald's spiritual protégé C.S. Lewis, when he wrote in Mere Christianity, "Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature." Lewis's words embody a truth that emerges directly out of Curdie's story. This edition for The Cullen Collection is unedited in any way.