Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women was the first work of fiction by MacDonald. Phantastes, exerted a strong influence on fantasy authors of later generations: for example, C. S. Lewis claimed that his imagination had been baptized by reading it. The story concerns a young man, Anodos, who is pulled into a dreamlike world and there hunts for his ideal of female beauty, embodied by the Marble Lady. Anodos lives through many adventures and temptations while in the other world, until he is finally ready to give up ...
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Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women was the first work of fiction by MacDonald. Phantastes, exerted a strong influence on fantasy authors of later generations: for example, C. S. Lewis claimed that his imagination had been baptized by reading it. The story concerns a young man, Anodos, who is pulled into a dreamlike world and there hunts for his ideal of female beauty, embodied by the Marble Lady. Anodos lives through many adventures and temptations while in the other world, until he is finally ready to give up his ideals, and only then does he learn the truth about what he has been searching for.
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Phantastes is one of my all-time favorite books. George MacDonald writes for those of us who don't plan to grow up entirely when it comes to our love of fantasy and innocence. This is not a child's book, it is for adults who know how to see past child-like scenarios, like fairy-land, and enjoy an adult's journey there. It is a book of depth, imagery, beauty, struggle, and growth. I read it because I was already a George MacDonald fan, but I noticed that it was a favorite book of C.S. Lewis. That is a high recommendation!