The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald

His worldview is naively idealistic, verging on offensively classist. It's unbelievably preachy - and most modern readers will find MacDonald's ideas rather peculiar. From page one to the end, the characters (there is nothing in particular to identify them with the characters of The Princess & the Goblin save for the names) walk through their roles woodenly in order to illustrate MacDonald's religious and social beliefs. Such is not the case with The Princess and Curdie. I suppose one can read religious allegory into the story if one tries (and the same goes for the poignancy of The Light Princess), but in those cases the message never got in the way of the story. The Princess and the Goblin was one of my favorite childhood books, My copy was read and re-read for the dreamlike sense of magic and wonder of the rooms at the top of the tower the gritty terror of the goblins under the mountain.

However, be warned that the last page and a half gives the book a distinctly unhappy ending, after the expected happy ending for the characters. A read that is fun as an intellectual exercise but also a delightful children's novel. The descriptions however, are delightfully rich. Of course, the narrative itself has the distinct feel of a fairy tale and would appeal to children, but it does have language that shows the book's age.

While the plot is intriguing and Curdie's development as an individual is interesting, it is MacDonald's exploration of morality that makes the book a worthwhile reading experience. But when a threat emerges to kingdom, Irene's great-great-grandmother calls Curdie to her, and after bestowing him with a gift, sends him to the king's palace where he works to correct the evils that have befallen the kingdom.MacDonald's novel is an allegory first and foremost. In the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, Curdie has continued to work in the king's mines after the departure of Princess Irene to the palace.

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald