The Princess and the Goblin

Story

The Princess and the Goblin tells the story of Princess Irene, who lives in a castle with only her nursemaid Lootie to keep her company. One day, she discovers a secret staircase that leads her to the mines far below the castle, where she meets Curdie – and a horde of evil goblins. Together, Irene and Curdie must foil their plans to flood the mines and kidnap Irene herself!

Why we chose it

George MacDonald was one of the earliest fantasy writers and is often called the ‘father of fantasy’. He influenced many later writers, including C. S. Lewis (who wrote the Narnia books) and J. R. R. Tolkien (who wrote The Lord of the Rings books).

Where it came from

George MacDonald said that he wrote “not for children, but for the child-like, whether they be of five, or fifty, or seventy-five”. He studied Moral Philosophy and Science at Aberdeen University and then became a Congregationalist minister but was forced to resign over clashes of belief. He then became a writer and wrote over 50 books to earn enough to support his wife and thirteen children, writing novels and works of fantasy for both adults and children. It is mainly his children’s books that have survived and are still in print.

Where it went next

The Princess and the Goblin has been adapted for television (1960s), film (1992), and a ballet (2012).

Associated stories

MacDonald’s other books for children include The Princess and Curdie, a sequel to The Princess and the Goblin and At the Back of the North Wind, the story of a boy who is carried away by the North Wind.

George MacDonald was a friend of Lewis Carroll. Carroll read the unfinished manuscript of Alice in Wonderland to MacDonald’s children.