The Light Princess: and Other Fairy Stories

When I was little, I loved the story of the light princess. It's a princess tale unlike any other -- the princess is eerie and unpredictable, not even entirely likable, and her actions will keep you deliciously unsure of the outcome. MacDonald writes with great humor and pathos as needed, and the chapters are short, making it a great read for younger children. MacDonald inspired writers like CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and Ursula LeGuin, so he's definitely worth trying out. Although he wrote these stories more than a hundred years ago, they're still highly accessible. The other stories in this collection are also enjoyable. I was impressed with this edition. I like the illustration on the front, which captures the main story well, and the font and arrangement of the book made it highly readable.

George MacDonald's fairy tales are so original, I fall in love with each one I read. Many fairy tales start to sound a like after a while, or they try so hard to be original that they lose their "aura" of faerie. But not so with MacDonald. In this edition are three of his tales--the first about a princess who is cursed when a infant with having no gravity, the second about a greedy giant and the wisdom of neglecting your own heart, the third about a boy named Mossy and a girl who tramp through faery woods in search of The Land Where the Shadows Come From. Each tale has a moral point--as all fairy tales must--but this point is so carefully, humbly and discretely woven among the plot that is pleasant rather than preachy. And because his plots are so original you are left guessing until the very end. C.S. Lewis highly recommended this author for serious as well as delightful study. I can see why. Four stars for this edition because the Table of Contents is not formatted correctly--to get to the second and third stories you have to just guess at the page number.

I'm sure my review won't be as in depth as some, nor as useful. Suffice it to say, I love George MacDonald's works. People just don't write like this anymore. It is in the form of true fairy tale. I loved it. All of the Fairy Stories were engaging, hard to put down, quick, and interesting to read. I like these because they are a true escape from reality. The writing is excellent and this is a great book to start with if you are unfamiliar with George MacDonald.

I first read The Light Princess as a child, and it's so well-written it's still very enjoyable for adults. In fact, it occurred to me that this was written at a time when children's books were far more advanced than they are today; the vocabulary used is more extensive than is found nowadays in so many dumbed-down books intended for kids.

This story was just a little too far fetched even for me. It has been a while since I read this book. Seems to me that only one of the others was good.

I'm not always entranced with George MacDonald. Even though I WANT to be! Some of his stuff i love, and some I find kind of...boring. But I LOVE love love his short story The Light Princess. In this "another story of the cursed princess," (which MacDonald pokes fun at), a miffed princess-who-is-a-witch curses the princess with Light-ness. The poor princess has no gravity. In various senses of the word. No physical weight, (except when she is in the water), and no seriousness. She never cries, she has no empathy or compassion. One day, a handsome prince falls in love with her. But she can't take him seriously. In an act of true love, the Prince gives up his life for the princess, knowing that she has no concept of what he has done for her. What i really love about this story is the picture of Christ and the world. Like the prince in the story, Christ willingly sacrificed all, and, for the most part, people can't take Him seriously. Like the Princess, in our fallen state, we are cursed with an inability to truly value what God offers us in His Son.

I find George Macdonald's stories very well-written and entertaining. While suitable for elementary aged children, the story is not so simply written as to be unsuitable for adults. This book might make a good book to read aloud to your children, and have them read some aloud to you. I hope you will download and enjoy this book. The Light Princess is a charming tale.

My favorite MacDonald classic. I have several editions and was pleased to discover that I could add a digital edition to my collection. Since my grandkids love to use my IPad, this will be an easy way to introduce them to one of the loveliest allegories ever written. A perfect illustration of what Tolkien celebrates in his essay, "On Fairy Stories."

A nice copy of stories I wanted to re-read. These are relatively long for children who will need to have them read to them, but anyone, child or adult, who can read them will find them good stories. They do have a serious side to them, and not everyone likes nineteenth century English prose, so perhaps they will not suit everyone. But I am not alone in thinking them wonderful. Very nice copy, clean and clear and accurately described (without dust jacket). Very rapid delivery, and the box had been respectfully handled during travel.

It is really nice and working as expected.

I've read and loved George Macdonald's "The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie" as a child. These stories will permit me to get to know this writer better. "The Light Princess" is a story about a light-headed girl who rejects her suitors... By the way, this is an attractive copy with a very pretty cover design!

Great