His books have been re-written for today’s reader by both Michael Phillips and Dan Hamilton, but I prefer by far the versions edited by Michael Phillips. My very favorite–the one I read over and again–is the book The Fisherman’s Lady. MacDonald’s characters come alive to me in a way that few other author’s do. And his books make me think more than any other work of fiction I’ve read.
Most of MacDonald’s books (edited by Michael Phillips) are out of print, but I have provided links to buy used copies on Amazon.com.
The story of Malcolm:
Malcolm (2 volumes in 1)
1. The Fisherman’s Lady
2. The Marquis’ Secret
Companion stories of Thomas Wingfold:
The Curate of Glaston Trilogy (3 volumes in 1)
The Curate’s Awakening
The Lady’s Confession
The Baron’s Apprenticeship
Companion stories of Gibbie and his friend Donal:
The Baronet’s Song (Gibbie)
The Shepherd’s Castle (Donal)
The Poet and the Pauper (both volumes in 1)
Companion stories of Hugh Sutherland and Robert Falconer:
The Tutor’s First Love (Hugh)
The Musician’s Quest (Robert)
Stories that stand alone:
A Daughter’s Devotion
The Gentlewoman’s Choice
The Highlander’s Last Song
The Laird’s Inheritance
The Maiden’s Bequest
The Landlady’s Master
The Minister’s Restoration
The Peasant Girl’s Dream
The Poet’s Homecoming
Stories for Younger Readers:
At the Back of the North Wind
The Wise Woman and Other Stories
The Princess and the Goblin
Some Quotations from George MacDonald’s Writings
“Faith is that which, knowing the Lord’s will, goes and does it, or not knowing it, stands and waits, content in ignorance as in knowledge, because God wills–neither pressing into the hidden future, nor careless of the knowledge which opens the path of action.”
“The farmer believed in God–that is, he tried to do what God required of him, and thus was on the straight road to know him. He talked little about religion, and was not one to take sides on doctrinal issues. When he heard people advocating or opposing the claims of this or that party in the church, he would turn away with a smile such as men yield to the talk of children. He had no time, he would say, for that kind of thing. He had enough to do in trying to faithfully practice what was beyond dispute.”
“I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.”
“No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to Him, and mind the present.”
“They had these advantages that many young lovers do not: they had known each other many years, knew the best and the worst about each other, were not starry-eyed, and most importantly, had been the best of friends before they had been lovers. Kirsty had been in no hurry to fall in love. They had played together as children, enjoyed each other as youths, learned to respect one another as young man and young woman. Thus their marriage was built on the firm foundation of time, deepened by maturity. When love came, therefore, they were old enough to begin to understand a little of what it was.”
Find more books by George MacDonald
Visit www.macdonaldphillips.com
