George MacDonald

George MacDonald is famous for his innovative fairy tales and fantasy novels for children which inspired many great authors including WH Auden, JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis. His literature forms a cornerstone of fantasy fiction for which he gained

an international reputation during his lifetime.

Born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, George grew up in a strictly religious household and began his professional life as a minister. Finding his talent lay in the pen and not the pulpit, he turned to writing. His first works were dramatic poems which drew praise from the poet Alfred Tennyson. He wrote prolifically, publishing over 50 novels. In 1858 George published his novel Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, which proved to be the major defining work of his career. Author CS Lewis referred to George as his “master” claiming that when he read his works he found he had “crossed a great frontier”.