About This Image

In this scarce image, MacDonald wears an unusual suite that shows up in other images from this period. Perhaps taken during his lecture tour to America in 1872-73, although it appears to be slightly later in his life, perhaps late 1870s, despite the New York Sarony address on the cdv.George MacDonald (1824-1905) was one of the most respected authors of his generation in 19th century Scotland. He wrote over 50 books, nearly half of them novels for adults, along with some theological studies, several volumes of essays & criticism, a few volumes of poetry, and three best-selling children's novels accompanied by a couple more volumes of fairy tales. He wrote in nearly every literary genre.Although today much of his poetry and adult fiction would be considered rather prosaic, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, it was fantasy that he really excelled in. His only two fantasy novels written for adults--Phantastes and Lilith--are often spoken of as two of the best novels ever written in the English language. His three fantasy novels for children, The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and the Curdie, and At the Back of the North Wind are so strange and otherworldly that adults often enjoy them as much, or more, than children. The latter tale is still his best-selling book ever. Strangely though, it was his non-fantasy adult fiction that sold best throughout his lifetime.It wouldn't be until well after the turn of the century that the book-buying public would take a healthy interest in MacDonald's fantasies and fairy tales, largely thanks to the efforts of C.S. Lewis along with G.K. Chesterton before him. Not only did Lewis write his anthology and introductions to some of MacDonald's reprints, but Chesterton wrote a stellar introduction to the George MacDonald biography written by George's son Greville MacDonald. Also, at the centenary celebration held in 1924 in honor of what would have been George MacDonald's one hundredth birthday (MacDonald was born December 10, 1824), G.K. Chesterton was chairman of the event. He once cited MacDonald as one of the three or four greatest men of the 19th century. Lewis referred to him as, "my master". High praise indeed. A bicentennial celebration of MacDonald's life is planned for 2024.

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