[TRoMF] George MacDonald - "The Golden Key"

[Old Timer]

Another story I read almost 20 years ago is "The Golden Key" by George MacDonald. "The Golden Key" was first published in "Dealing with Fairies" in 1867. This story is fascinating and mysterious, and is full of "atmosphere" and imagination. A boy finds a keys at the end of a rainbow and then must find what the key fits.

He also wrote "The Princess and the Goblin" (1872) and the sequel "The Princess and the Curdie" (1883). Other stories include "The Wise Woman, or The Obstinate Princess: A Double Story" (1875), "Phantastes"(1858), "At the Back of the North Wind"(1871), "The Light Princess" and "Lilith" (1895).


TRoMF = The Roots of Modern Fantasy

[Old Timer]

George MacDonald is the father of modern fantasy. His complete works total over 50 volumes, which I wish I had access to. His first work of fantasy, Phantastes, was published in 1858. The modern fantasy author that is next after MacDonald is William Morris, and Morris's fantasy works did not come until the late 1880's although he started writing around the same time as MacDonald, but trailed him in fantasy by 30 years.

[Old Timer]

A poster named Geoffrey (on DF) wrote

I have MacDonald's complete works in a matching set. Here is where I bought them: www.johannesen.com/index.html If you buy the set, it will cost you $820.50 (worth it to me!). Please note that most of his writings are not fantasy. He mostly wrote "mundane" (but inspiring) novels. There are also several volumes of poetry, essays, and sermons in the mix.

Currently some of the books are out of stock, because

Our Editions are Hand Made and Hard Bound with Original Old World Techniques

In small print runs
www.johannesen.com/bookmaking.htm

about George MacDonald
www.johannesen.com/GMD.htm

[Old Timer]

Some quibble about the term "modern fantasy" as his style is not like what is written over the last 20 - 50 years. But we are talking about the father of modern fantasy the guy whom Tolkien was inspired by and also we are talking about the writer that first took it beyond the oral tradition of fairy tales and their early compilations, the writing of which started around the year 1500 give or take a bit.

[Molcho]

George MacDonald takes a back seat to no one.

[Dartanian]

George MacDonald I would rate above Tolkien.