The Light Princess

by George MacDonald

Overview

The princess at her christening is cursed by a wicked witch with lightness. She floats blissfully about the castle all day long and, as one can imagine, gets into all sorts of adventures. Gravity, weight, sorrow, suffering--all of this the princess misses, but with all of these she misses love, for what is love without weight, without falling?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789359329215
Publisher:	Double 9 Books
Publication date:	11/01/2023
Pages:	50
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.12(d)

About the Author

George MacDonald (1824 – 1905) was a Scottish-born novelist and poet. He grew up in a religious home influenced by various sects of Christianity. He attended University of Aberdeen, where he graduated with a degree in chemistry and physics. After experiencing a crisis of faith, he began theological training and became minister of Trinity Congregational Church. Later, he gained success as a writer penning fantasy tales such as Lilith, The Light Princess and At the Back of the North Wind. MacDonald became a well-known lecturer and mentor to various creatives including Lewis Carroll who famously wrote, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland fame.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-6-George MacDonald's classic (Harcourt, 1988) is given the royal treatment in this full-cast production. Due to a curse at birth, the princess is all lightness-light of body, without emotion, and incapable of feeling for another person. The only thing she cares about is the water that allows her to be grounded rather than floating up in the air as she does on land. The evil witch empties the lake and the princess falls into decline. Only a man who voluntarily gives up his life can restore the lake and help the princess. Cynthia Bishop is a superb narrator with a wonderful ability to convey MacDonald's wisdom and wryness. The most striking thing about this recording is that the songs in the text have been put to music and are sung by Adam Wahlberg. The combination of his beautiful voice and the lovely lyrics is truly heartbreaking-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

For [this] elegant edition of the Victorian story that combines seriousness with levity and farce with fantasy, the artist has created pictures that...present the ludicrous element of the story; then become poetic and romantic; and finally are climaxed by the last crowning revelation of the light princess humanized by sorrow and love.” —Starred, The Horn Book

From the Publisher

Imagine a princess lighter than air--physically and emotionally--who continually needs help to stay earthbound. This version of MacDonald’s witty classic is, unfortunately, unabridged: “not one single sentence has been omitted.” This means that all the unnecessary and boring parts of MacDonald’s story are there. It becomes a long, drawn-out story, in which everything ends up feeling extreme--too many words, too long pauses, too much inflection--making the characters seem one-dimensional and unsympathetic. The full cast helps differentiate the characters, but it’s hard to work up much compassion for any of them. This production may be good for an adult theology lesson, but not for children’s entertainment. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile