Phantastes by George Macdonald
The Complete Works of George MacDonald (Illustrated Edition) includes innumerable books, short stories, poems and sermons by this 19th century Scottish author and minister. A pioneer of fantasy literature, he strongly influenced many fellow writers, such as Lewis Carroll and C. S. Lewis.
This is a brief review of one of the books: Phantastes.
A young man, just turned twenty-one, receives the key to his father’s ancient desk. He discovers a secret compartment and is suddenly confronted by a tiny, beautiful woman, who names him Anodos and offers him the chance to enter Fairy Land. Next morning that is where he finds himself and his adventures begin.
One might ask: Is this simply a fairy tale? And the answer has to be: No! It’s too complex and too devious to be mere entertainment.
Is it a precursor of psychoanalysis? Maybe. It exposes embarrassing yet powerful inner urges, over which the protagonist has little or no control, and which require deep healing.
Or is it a spiritual book in the guise of fantasy? Without any reference to the divine, it nevertheless triggered profound spiritual searching in the hearts of people like C. S. Lewis. Though Spiritual Fantasy didn’t exist as a genre at the time MacDonald wrote, this is probably the most appropriate description.
The book is captivating, beautifully written and illustrated, and provokes intimate questions.
Who are these dangerous but beautiful women, strange knights and giants he meets on his travels through Fairy Land? How is it that the flowers and trees wander about and perform acts both fearful and heroic? What is the significance of the fairy queen’s palace, with its intricate network of pillared halls? Or the deep caverns inhabited by fearful goblins?
Let the reader decide.