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The Princess and the Goblin

By: George MacDonald
Narrated by: Ian Whitcomb
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Editorial reviews

Renowned musician, author, and actor Ian Whitcomb lends his lush, lilting baritone to George MacDonald’s surreal story of bravery and honor, delivering a performance sure to excite the imaginations of young listeners. Whitcomb’s soothing, melodious strains recall the almost hypnotic comfort of childhood bedtime stories. At the same time, this jack-of-all-trades performer capably captures the fantastic playfulness that drives The Princess and the Goblin, his jaunty English accent brimming with dapper affection. MacDonald’s classic relates the plight of a young princess on a mission to save her kingdom from subterranean goblin invaders. MacDonald builds layers of fantasy and surrealism throughout his tale, employing magic and symbolism with skill rivaled perhaps only by the great Lewis Carroll.

Publisher's Summary

Young Princess Irene is sent to the country to be raised in a half-farmhouse, half-castle located in the side of a mountain. While exploring the top of the castle, Irene becomes lost and inexplicably finds her way to a mystifying and beautiful woman spinning a thread. Princess Irene is drawn to the woman whom she discovers is her great-great-grandmother. But after she returns, her nurse, Lootie, refuses to believe in the old woman's existence, and the young Princess cannot find the way back to her great-great-grandmother.

Days later, while on an outing with Lootie, Princess Irene believes that she detects a Goblin. They meet a young miner, Curdie, who confirms her sighting. Soon Curdie discovers Goblins lurking under the castle that have constructed an evil plot against the king and his palace. Princess Irene's belief in her great-great-grandmother's powers becomes essential as she and Curdie work to foil the sinister Goblin plan. As the Princess tells Curdie, "sometimes you must believe without seeing".
©1996 Phoenix Recordings
Geography & Cultures Classics Science Fiction & Fantasy Childhood Education Fantasy
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What listeners say about The Princess and the Goblin

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  • E
  • 29-04-2017

Love this!

Would you listen to The Princess and the Goblin again? Why?

The story is lovely, sweet and yet profound.

What other book might you compare The Princess and the Goblin to, and why?

At the back of the North Wind, only because no one can write quite like George MacDonald and At the Back of the North Wind is one of his works that are more similar The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie Books

Have you listened to any of Ian Whitcomb’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Ian Whitcomb also did the Princess and Curdie and he is great in both!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part where Princess Irene gets Curdie out of the his prison in the goblin palace, I love the concept of a true princess not being afraid of hard work but simply working until its done.

Any additional comments?

This story and Ian Whitcomb's recording of it is one of my absolute favorite audio books.

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