The Princess and Curdie, George MacDonald
The Princess and Curdie, George MacDonald
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The Princess and Curdie

Author: George MacDonald

Narrator: Raphael Croft

Unabridged: 4 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/20/2025

Synopsis

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald continues the enchanting tale of The Princess and the Goblin , exploring themes of courage, transformation, and moral growth. Curdie, now a young miner, receives a mysterious gift from Irene’s great-great-grandmother: the ability to discern a person’s true nature through their hands. Tasked with protecting the kingdom from corruption and tyranny, he embarks on a perilous journey filled with strange creatures and profound lessons. Alongside Princess Irene, who embodies grace and wisdom, Curdie confronts his own flaws while battling external threats. MacDonald weaves a rich allegory about redemption, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love and faith. The novel’s imaginative storytelling and philosophical depth make it a timeless exploration of human potential and virtue, inspiring readers to seek truth and embrace inner transformation.

About George MacDonald

George MacDonald was a prolific author of both children's and adult books, including such classics as At the Back of the North Wind, The Princess and the Goblin, Lilith, and Phantastes. His works were the inspiration for later writers, including G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

A consummate Scotsman, MacDonald was born on December 10, 1824, in Huntly, Aberdeenshire. He was ordained as a congregationalist minister in 1845 and became a pastor at Arundel. This appointment did not last long, as he soon came into conflict with his parishioners and church because of his belief in purgatory and that all people eventually came into heaven, even animals.

In 1852, MacDonald married Louisa Powell, with whom he had six sons and five daughters. He was forced to resign from his church position in 1853, and after a brief sojourn in Algiers for the sake of his health, he became a freelance preacher, lecturer, and writer. His literary breakthrough came in 1855 with the publication of the narrative poem Within and Without. In the two decades that followed, he gained increasing fame and success with his children's books but was never able to earn enough money to support his family. Luckily, in 1877 he was granted a pension at the request of Queen Victoria.

MacDonald died on September 21, 1905, in Scotland.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sara on October 03, 2017

George MacDonald writes wonderfully and that is the only positive thing coming out of my mouth/keyboard in this review. The book took a completely different direction than the last one, turned more baffling and boring by the second and did not answer the questions I previously had. That great, old, h......more

Goodreads review by Barb on October 28, 2012

I love George MacDonald. I especially like his fairy tale and fantasy books. Like C.S. Lewis, I love the theology in the stories, and I always find something that speaks to me, or causes me to think more deeply. For example, "It is always dangerous to do things you don't know about." What a simple p......more

Goodreads review by Kathryn on March 15, 2011

This is a strange, strange little book, and it was even stranger for me when I first read it without having read "The Princess and the Goblin". The religious allegories in the book now remind me of C.S. Lewis' "Perelandra" trillogy, and a lot of the rest is VERY dark for a children's book. There's a......more

Goodreads review by Beth on May 20, 2020

I found the gentleness of this story something I needed right now. It was a little too direct in its messages for my taste, but Curdie is wonderful, and I fell in love with the terrifying, massive, good-hearted Lina.......more

Goodreads review by Cindy on October 19, 2016

I don't think this is quite as fun to read as The Princess and the Goblin but it is still a wonderful book. Perhaps its deeper lessons take away from the joy of the story. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful book. My recent student was quite put out that the history of Gwynytystorm ended so dismally.......more

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