I’ve been a George MacDonald fan for years, ever since reading Lilith and Phantastes— adult fairy tales that lead the reader into a place of wonder. Over time, I explore his other works—his theology in Unpublished Sermons, poetry in Diary of an Old Soul, novels in Thomas Wingfold, Curate, and children’s literature in At the Back of the North Wind. There’s something wholesome about MacDonald’s theological vision.

Timothy Larsen’s book contains the three lectures he gave on George MacDonald at the Hansen Lectureship Series, a series devoted to seven British authors: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy L. Sayers, George MacDonald, G. K. Chesterton, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield.

In the first lecture, Larsen explores how MacDonald was a theologian of the Incarnation (and by extension, not the atonement). He adored Advent and Christmas, focusing on the profound truth of Emmanuel—God with us. The second lecture explores how MacDonald used poetry and fairy stories to push back against the “Age of Doubt” known as the Victorian Era. More than escapism, MacDonald’s fairy stories were invitations to believe. The third and final lecture explores MacDonald’s view of sanctification, the mystical rose-fire of The Princess and Curdie. A brief response from three different scholars (James Edward Beitler III, Richard Hughes Gibson, and Jill Pelaez Baumgaertner) follow each lecture.

If you love George MacDonald, buy this book. It’s an inspiring walk-through MacDonald’s diverse corpus. Larsen draws out and highlights the main themes that informed the mind and pen of my favourite Victorian Storyteller.

Larsen, Timothy. George MacDonald in the Age of Miracles: Incarnation, Doubt, and Reenchantment. IVP Academic, 2018. Hansen Lectureship Series.