The Princess and the Goblin
by George MacDonald
"The Princess and the Goblin" is the story of young Princess Irene, her good friend Curdy - the son of a small boy - and the mysterious and beautiful grandmother Irene, who lives in a secret room above the castle stairs. It's a story of Curdy's slow realization, filled with images of dungeons and goblins, mysterious fires, burning roses, and threads thin enough to become invisible, and also — like a prayer — strong enough to bring the princess home into Grandma's arms. Tolkien was a big fan of George McDonald's tales. When their children were young, she read them "The Princess and the Goblin" before going to bed in the evening. A sequel to Princess and Kirdy is also available.
