George MacDonald Books

Truly great writers oft are known to have troubled, tragic, or challenging lives. George MacDonald certainly walked a mile or two in everykind of worldly storm -- his theological beliefs, particularly, rocked the religious boat in his day. Independent thought, however, is the first of those characteristics which mark the great writers. Of course, it takes one to know one, and in this case Michael Phillips has certainly gotten to know his subject and proven himself the scholar capable of penning such a tremendous biography. George MacDonald: A Biography of Scotland's Beloved Storyteller, is a masterful piece of work. Phillips paints the whole portrait, not merely the man, but the man in his relationships personal, public, and professional with those around him. We get to know his family, and it sometimes seems as if Phillips stepped back in time and walked along with MacDonald, across the Scottish highlands, along the English and Mediterranian shores, and down the streets of MacDonald's very boyhood.

I am somewhat saddened that the works of George MacDonald were introduced to me as a young reader. Certainly his voice and his spiritual convictions that ingrained themselves so deeply, and positively, in the lives of the men and women of his generation could be the healing balm, or perhaps the catalyst for change, for this modern generation. Phillips shows us of MacDonald as man, as preacher, as scholar, as awestruck child of a living and powerful God who, despite the trials of life and the naysayers, persevered. I am happy, however, that introduction has finally been made, and I can think of no one better chosen for the task.

Michael Phillips' writing talent shines through in this rich and inspiring work. Readers will come away with the desire to know more of Mr. MacDonald's work -- not to mention wanting to read more of Mr. Phillips' other works as well.

Meet the man that C. S. Lewis and now Michael Phillips call their mentor. If you're wondering why you should take the time to become acquainted with a Scottish preacher, poet and novelist, perhaps the greatest endorsement of MacDonald comes from Lewis. Lewis expressed the thought that though MacDonald was not error-free, he knew of no writer who was so continually close to the Spirit of Christ. In his presentation of MacDonald's faith, Phillips makes the words of Lewis ring true.

Some of MacDonald's ideas are controversial but much of his thought gets at the core of what it means to follow Christ. His mystical side, which could see the hand of God in all of nature, and his emphasis on doing all that Christ said, remind one of St. Francis of Assisi.

MacDonald was a multi-faceted character and Phillips does a masterful job of fleshing out the person. Particularly fascinating is the glimpse we get of MacDonald's inward struggle to discover what God was really like. He had a difficult time reconciling God's nature with the stern Calvinism of his day that could leave a child in tears for failing to adequately learn his or her lessons about God. You see in his journey what led him toward the thought of universal redemption, an idea that circulated during his time.

MacDonald saw that for some Christians, hell was the greatest reality. But how does one reconcile the idea of eternal punishment for sin with a God that MacDonald came to believe was good and loving. His mystical side believed that even as the sun melts the snow; sin, death and even hell itself would eventually give way before the love of God.

One cannot help but be sympathetic, as Phillips is, to this remarkable account of one man's attempt to reconcile apparent opposing realities. On the other hand, some of his views are a little confusing and appear to contradict Scripture.

Those like MacDonald, who believe in a universal redemption, view the idea that some are lost forever as a defeat of God's ultimate plan and intention. They might say that to see it otherwise makes our sense of justice higher than God's. I don't think it necessarily follows that God has suffered a defeat because some are lost. God clearly states through the prophet Isaiah that we cannot fully fathom His thoughts and ways. We don't want to make the mistake of pronouncing as one thing what God sees as something else. We often see the death of a Christian as tragic, but for God it is something that is precious in His sight.

Our finite minds cannot always reconcile what seems to us contradictory. For example, many have tried to do that with the ideas of predestination and choice. That attempt has been a cause of error and a source of disagreement among Christians. On this particular issue, as in others, wisdom is found in acknowledging all that the Bible teaches while recognizing that from God's perspective, there is harmony.

Phillips portrays MacDonald as a seeker after the truth, and he does an excellent job of showing us where MacDonald's search led him. But it's still hard to understand how he could embrace the idea of universal redemption, when it's not clearly taught in Scripture. There's much more to MacDonald than this particular issue, but this book serves as a fascinating study of it.

I now understand why a Calvinist, one who among other things believes in a limited atonement--Christ died only for the elect, would want nothing to do with MacDonald. It's interesting to note that Calvinism is reportedly making a comeback today among the young. It's not the strict Calvinism of MacDonald's time, but the essential doctrines are the same. That Calvinism would begin to experience a renewal of sorts shows that a divide remains between Christians when it comes to the finer points of doctrine.

Whether it is in relation to disagreements, or one's views in general, some people make themselves almost despicable through their pettiness. MacDonald was the exact opposite. He was exceedingly broad-minded, a noble soul that inspired and elevated those he touched through his life and writings. He was, as he came to be known by friends, Mr. Greatheart of The Pilgrim's Progress. His thoughts were often grand, original and challenging.

We are the richer for this insightful glimpse into the heart of the man. I can't imagine a better book on MacDonald's inward journey, and I can't escape the conclusion that he was a strong believer in Christ. The majority of his thought is profound and valuable to any Christian. It's amazing to see how widely he is read and quoted even today.

Originally published in 1987, this revised and updated edition commemorates the 100th anniversary of MacDonald's death. It starts off slow because of the abundance of background information, but it's a great read for those who want to get to know a life that despite challenges and controversy was exceptionally noble.

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The Johannensen editions of these books _are_ gorgeously solid without being flashy or pretentious, btw. I highly recommend buying from them.

MacDonald wrote five volumes of 'Unspoken Sermons' (the title of the first three volumes); each a cycle of 12 sermons leading into each other (he always ends one sermon with the verse upon which the next is based). This duplex includes _Hope of the Gospel_ and _Miracles of Our Lord_, both of which are in essence extensions of the Unspoken series.

MoOL (which doesn't feature the usual crossover between chapter/sermons, btw) makes an especially good reference for fans and students (like myself) of C.S. Lewis' _Miracles: A Preliminary Study_, as Lewis definitely drew on this book for the form and presentation of his chapters of philosophical analysis of the miracles wrought by Jesus. (In fact, all the Unspokens give excellent insight into Lewis' theological backgrounding.) MacDonald presents a penetrating theological and devotional presentation of the Lord's works, emphasizing the call to faith in Jesus personally inherent in each one. The book can be read as an auxiliary to the other Unspokens, or as an introduction to the series as a whole.

HotG works best, in my opinion, as a summary of positions developed in the three main Unspoken volumes (although all the sermons are also quite original); consequently I always read it last. {g} The first few sermons trace Jesus' early life and ministry, giving fascinating insights on His Jerusalem Temple adventure and His baptism,as well as on the meaning inherent in His given name. From these points, MacDonald structures the remaining chapters around the Beatitudes, presenting them as the clearest way to understand the gospel given by God through (and as) Jesus.

Scholarly standards are quite high in MacDonald's work, although this shouldn't scare off potential readers: he constantly brings us back to practical applications of all the principles discussed.

If I had to recommend any single series of books (outside the Scriptures themselves) that every Christian should read (and while quite conservative the books will be theologically challenging to Christians all across the spectrum), the Unspoken Sermons, including these two extensions, would definitely be the one.

The Johannesens have devoted the last six years to producing quality editions of the works of George MacDonald. I am not much of a fan of old typefaces, old books, or their facsimiles, but the physical beauty of this duplex edition of these hundred year old books reflects well the beauty of the teachings inscribed on its pages.

Among the essays in _Hope of the Gospel_ is "Sorrow, the Pledge of Joy", which I consider to be one of the all-time masterpieces of devotional literature. Anyone who can read it without weeping must have lived a life much different from mine. This essay appears in a heavily edited form in Rolland Hein's _Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel_; buy the Johannesen's edition to enjoy this and other essays in their full unedited glory.

This is a wonderful story, with the language as only George Macdonald can do it. Its a classic fairy tale story with all the magic and love anyone could ask for. I highly suggest getting it.

Illustrations are magnificant,the story is different from every day fairy tales too. It's a must have!

The Lost Princess, along with At the Back of the North Wind is truly MacDonald at his best. Through the help of a wise woman, two spoiled girls, "princesses" in their own homes learn to see themselves as they really are and find out how to change. A learning experience for all who read.

This wonderful story is my favorite of all George Macdonald's fairy stories. The great mistake here is to assume that fairy stories are for children. This is an inspiring and soul-searching story for readers of all ages. A wise old woman brings purity and character to the heart of an arrogant selfish princess, helping her to become a TRUE princess.

I don't know if there is an american equivalent, maybe you could consider it a bunch of short stories of British Military life post WWII. A military that is similar to MASH you could say, but only in a way that is distinctly British

The sequel to "The General danced at Dawn"; further hilarious and touching adventures of a "one pipper" and his highland regiment. For me, this is Prozac in paperback; never fails to bring a smile.

I previously read Phantastes with a copy from the library. It didn't have any illustrations. I ordered this copy because it has the original illustrations, and it is wonderful! The paperback quality is average, but the text is clearly printed, and the illustrations add a lot to the reading. This copy is probably "pocket-quality," useful for wear and tear, but not really a collector's edition. However, I still recommend it for anyone who wants a nice copy for their personal library.

I came to Phantastes through Tokien and Lewis. After reading in "Surprised by Joy" the profound impact this book had on C.S. Lewis, I had to read it for myself. I was not disappointed. The book has its finger in something that modern fantasy books are mostly missing. Where modern writers tend to infuse their stories with modern men and women with swords and an older manner of speech, the very essence of Phantastes is something truly "old." There is a strong moral root to it, that is profoundly Christian, a sense of good things lost but better things gained through humility. The moral foundation of it has the weight of reality behind, and has a bitter-sweet quality to it.

The line from a song sung in the book has stayed in my mind ever since I first read it (and I do not have a great head for memorizing lines)

"Alas, how easily things go wrong!
A sigh too much, or a kiss too long,
And there follows a mist and a weeping rain,
And life is never the same again."

I think this line captures that "Paradise Lost" feeling present in the book quite profoundly, and yet there is much more to it than that.

I could go on at length about this book, but shall leave it at this: This is a fairy tale, and a true romance, with a profound moral center. It has its roots in the old ways of thinking and the old ways of feeling. It is a bridge to the "old," the heart and soul that makes knights and maidens and chivalry and honor a fascination to this very day. It is easy to see why this book inspired the great fantasy writers of the twentieth century.

I would conclude with a comment on the illustrations. I highly recommend this version as the illustrations are incredible. Arthur Hughes captures the essence of the things I spoke about above in his art. I am very glad to see this printing include the artwork that MacDonald preferred for his book, and can honestly say that it greatly increased my enjoyment of the already wonderful book.

The purpose of this review is to assure customers who may be interested in buying a Johannesen edition of George MacDonald's work that they are indeed getting the best copy available. The Portent and Other Stories is a rather strange collection of MacDonald's work containing the eerie title story, The Cruel Painter, The Castle, The Wow O' Rivven, The Broken Swords, The Grey Wolf, and Uncle Cornelius His Story. I say that this collection is strange in accordance to the subject matter of some of these stories in relation to the rest of MacDonald's work. Strong elements of the gothic abound quite convincingly. The physical quality of the book itself is worth the money. Like all Johannesen editions (which are considered as authoritative editions amongst literary critics), this book is hand-bound in a hard, green cover with acid-free pages, both of which promise to last over a century of use. For anyone wishing to collect MacDonald's work, this would be the best copy to buy. I hope this review has been helpful to you.

If you like the Harry Potter stories or Lord of the Rings you need to introduce yourself to the works of George MacDonald. In "The Portent" George MacDonald tells a story of courage, duty, and friendship with a wee bit of the Unknown in that region of thin places. The symbolism begins in Chapter 1.

George MacDonald's "Robert Falconer" is perhaps the best of his works that I have ever read. It deals extensively with a boy's search to know God personally while struggling with the concepts about God presented to him by his extremely strict Calvanist grandmother who raises him. It contains some of the best advice on Christian ministry that I have seen in a novel and I recommend this book highly. If you only want an entertaining book this may not be the best one since it is written in the phonetic Scottish accent, which can be difficult to understand. A few times I had to read it aloud in order to comprehend what he was saying. Still, the content is absolutely excellent, the story is entertaining (if you can get around the accent) and I am going to buy this book for my personal library when I can get some money together.

Robert Falconer should, in my opinion, be required reading for all who profess the faith of Christianity. The plot is simple and straightforward in that it does no more than recount the life and times of one man, Robert Falconer. Yet the lessons taught would be well-heeded by all who proclaim the Son of Man as Lord and Savior of their lives.

The story vividly portrays the misery, despair, confusion, hope, and all-consuming search of one small boy as he makes the arduous journey into manhood-a journey that too few seem either willing or able to make. Robert is forced to put away childish things, to submit to a stronger will and greater power than his own. He learns, not from his pious and orthodox grandmother, but from a bitter battle of endurance between God and self that the Father and Creator of all is also the greatest servant of all. He discovers that it is not through ritual and church service, not through hymns and rote prayers, but through service and obedience that one may know God truly. In order to serve God, one must serve his fellow creatures. There is no other way-"faith without works is dead."

This novel is founded upon a search-Robert's search for his Heavenly Father and his earthly father. While the plot line may not contain the action and intrigue desired of many, it is a perfectly realistic account of the battle that ensues when anyone would truly know God. It is the conflict between life and death. In my opinion, there is no greater battle to chronicle.

I invite you, nay beseech you, to walk alongside Robert Falconer as he begins a pilgrimage to Eternity. You will uncover much you may have forgotten of your own struggles, or you may find that your battle has not yet begun. If you can read this book with no pangs of conscience, no convictions of guilt, no mists of doubt, no desire to search your own heart, no compulsion to seek your Father then you are, indeed, to be commended or damned.

This is an utterly lovely book. The text itself shows the various versions printed at different times while the notations switch between well thought out historical and linguistic commentary and the sweet and hesitant questions of a fellow reader. If one must read Hamlet alone this book makes a wonderful companion.

This is a real gem. MacDonald challenges traditional assumptions about Hamlet, and leaves us with a better understanding of himself, of the Poet, and of ourselves.