Review of Phantastes by George MacDonald

Phantastes by George MacDonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had attempted to read this book once or twice as a teenager, but for some reason it didn't capture my imagination at the time. I laid it aside and thought to pick it up from time to time, but never got around to it. Now, having read it, I'm disappointed that I let it go for so long. It's a late Romantic Era masterpiece. The narrative, like that of Lilith, is a story in dream state. If you're looking for a traditional three-act structure, go elsewhere. This work is more lyric than story, more song than tale. The imagery evoked by MacDonald is some of the richest in literature and the episodic scenes are achingly powerful. One can easily see the thread of influence on CS Lewis, who claimed that this book "baptized" his imagination. But the work stands alone, separate from the scores of people who lay claim to the power of its resonance in their thinking. It strikes a truly original chord.


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