Perfect. But then I'm a huge fan of MacDonald.

He writes with such grace that one doesn't realize at first how clever his stories are. And such memorable, unique characters - what reader will ever forget the day boy who disobediently stayed out after dark, who begs for comfort from the night girl, then arrogantly abandons her as she faces the sun for the first time in her life? Who could forget that girl who works through the revelations of life outside her dark cell with much more courage, despite being held in much more ignorance, than the boy could ever? Even the witch, even the staff, are interesting characters.

I suppose the story is not more popular because it is short enough, fantastical enough, to look like a book for young children - whereas it's really more like a novella for young-at-heart adults.

This edition particularly lovely with the illustrations by Hogrogian. ( )

This wonderful work is a perfect example of why it is a crime of the highest order that the maestro of "fairytales", George MacDonald, is not better known in our day. A beautiful and extremely creative story of fantasy, romance, and deep allegory.Read from the author C.S. Lewis called his literary "master"--the man who inspired and fathered the renowned Inklings, the small group of authors including such men as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and others. ( )

Six word review: Night scares boy; day scares girl.

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