The leading MacDonald scholar settles the longstanding debate about the author's views on hell with an in-depth analysis of his thought on the afterlife.   Throughout his extensive and influential writings on Christian theology, George MacDonald only hints at his perspectives on hell, atonement, and everlasting punishment. Nowhere does he clearly state a doctrinal position on the subject. As a result, a controversy has raged for more than a century about whether or not MacDonald was a universalist. Now MacDonald scholar and biographer Michael Phillips tackles the "great hell debate" head on in this authoritative book.   With numerous quotes from MacDonald's writings and his extensive knowledge of MacDonald's work, Phillips blows the lid off the debate by illuminating the full scope of MacDonald's afterlife vision. One of the most significant studies of MacDonald's theological perspectives ever written, this is a must-read for all serious students of George MacDonald.