The Princess and the Goblin, with eBook cover art

The Princess and the Goblin, with eBook

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The Princess and the Goblin, with eBook

By: George MacDonald
Narrated by: Ian Whitcomb
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About this listen

 Young Princess Irene is sent to the country to be raised in a half-farmhouse, half-castle located in the side of a mountain. While exploring the top of the castle, Irene becomes lost and inexplicably finds her way to a mystifying and beautiful woman spinning a thread. Princess Irene is drawn to the woman whom she discovers is her great-great-grandmother. But after she returns, her nurse, Lootie, refuses to believe in the old woman's existence, and the young Princess cannot find the way back to her great-great-grandmother.

Days later, while on an outing with Lootie, Princess Irene believes that she detects a Goblin. They meet a young miner, Curdie, who confirms her sighting. Soon Curdie discovers Goblins lurking under the castle that have constructed an evil plot against the king and his palace. Princess Irene's belief in her great-great-grandmother's powers becomes essential as she and Curdie work to foil the sinister Goblin plan. As the Princess tells Curdie, "sometimes you must believe without seeing".

©1996 Phoenix Recordings Classics Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths Fantasy Fiction Geography & Cultures Literature & Fiction Primary Education Royalty Science Fiction & Fantasy Magic

Editor reviews

Renowned musician, author, and actor Ian Whitcomb lends his lush, lilting baritone to George MacDonald’s surreal story of bravery and honor, delivering a performance sure to excite the imaginations of young listeners. Whitcomb’s soothing, melodious strains recall the almost hypnotic comfort of childhood bedtime stories. At the same time, this jack-of-all-trades performer capably captures the fantastic playfulness that drives The Princess and the Goblin, his jaunty English accent brimming with dapper affection. MacDonald’s classic relates the plight of a young princess on a mission to save her kingdom from subterranean goblin invaders. MacDonald builds layers of fantasy and surrealism throughout his tale, employing magic and symbolism with skill rivaled perhaps only by the great Lewis Carroll.
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As an adult I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a lovely tale, if a litle moral in places and not necessarily suitable for under-sevens (bit of wanton Goblin death involved), but otherwise a very enjoyable listen.

Pretty good

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