Jessica Ann Hughes
"Through verses that aim to purge readers' selfishness, illuminate life's struggles through the light of Christ, and unite the soul to the sometimes-puzzling will of God, George MacDonald's daily poems in Diary of an Old Soul cultivate a posture of surrender. In the introduction to this annotated IVP edition, Timothy Larsen is a masterful teacher and storyteller, orienting readers to both poetry and the devotional practices of Victorians. Through the text, Larsen's helpful footnotes expand on MacDonald's biography, biblical allusions, and key aspects of Victorian culture. For those new to MacDonald's work or long acquainted with his writings, this edition is edifying and educational, as all good reading should be!"
Noah Toly
"Diary of an Old Soul is a gift to Christians seeking solace, enlightenment, and a closer walk with God. George MacDonald's devotional poetry brims with biblical wisdom and profound insight, and the blank pages in this reprinting open up space for readers to join him in spiritual reflection. This edition helps me look forward to spending more time with MacDonald."
Malcolm Guite
"This beautifully edited and annotated edition of George MacDonald's Diary of an Old Soul is not only a gift to MacDonald scholars and enthusiasts but also a gift to the world and to the church. Diary of an Old Soul can sit on your bedside reading table as an old friend and companion, something to dip in and out of, to look up the poem for the particular day you take up the book: you will always be challenged, inspired, and ultimately nourished. But Larsen shows that this book offers so much more. It is an inner journal of the hard road of sanctification, the journey all mystics take through purgation, to illumination, and finally to blissful union with the God who loves us and is always enabling our love in return. For those who don't yet know the Diary, this book is the perfect introduction and companion for your journey with MacDonald. For those who do, be prepared to look at an old friend with new eyes and new depths of appreciation."
Han-luen Kantzer Komline
"George MacDonald writes as a human being who hungers and thirsts for God. The love of God is not a luxury but a primal need. These exquisite poems are an ideal companion for those seeking to come more fully alive to the ache, ecstasy, and urgency of this most basic of longings."