Children's book: The Princess and the Goblin

Overview
George MacDonald's 1871 children's fantasy weaves fairy-tale elements with moral depth, following Princess Irene and the miner's son Curdie as they confront a secret, dangerous world beneath their mountain. The tale balances whimsical magic, the presence of a mysterious, benevolent great-great-grandmother, with gritty, earth-bound peril in the form of a goblin conspiracy. Adventure, bravery, and a quiet emphasis on faith and moral courage drive the narrative forward.
MacDonald writes with a voice that is both simple and philosophical, making the story accessible to children while offering layers for adult readers. The novel moves briskly between moments of wonder and tense action, creating a vivid moral landscape where courage and trust are tested.

Main characters
Princess Irene is a young, curious royal who befriends an unseen ancestor she comes to know as her great-great-grandmother. Irene's purity of heart and willingness to trust a presence she cannot see become central to the book's moral lessons, and her gentle courage grows through small acts of faith and steadfastness.
Curdie, the miner's boy, is practical, bold, and skeptical of invisible things, yet he possesses a keen sense of justice and an instinct for action. Tasked by circumstance to spy on goblin activity, Curdie undergoes a coming-of-age transformation as he navigates danger, responsibility, and a revelation about his place in the wider world.

Plot
When Curdie discovers signs of a plot by the goblins that live beneath the mountain, plans to flood the mines and attack the surface, he takes it upon himself to investigate and warn the kingdom. Parallel to his investigations, Princess Irene maintains a secret relationship with her great-great-grandmother, who provides guidance and comfort through a magical connection. The two young protagonists' paths converge as the goblins' scheme grows more threatening.
Curdie's courage is tested in a series of dangerous encounters that reveal the goblins' cruelty and cunning. Irene's quiet faith sustains her through moments of fear and isolation, and together their actions thwart the goblin plot. The story resolves with personal revelations, rewards for bravery, and the restoration of safety, underscoring moral virtues rather than simple triumph.

Themes
Courage and faith stand at the heart of the novel, examined through both action and trust in unseen good. MacDonald contrasts pragmatic bravery, embodied by Curdie, with a childlike faith in invisible guardianship, embodied by Irene, showing how different kinds of strength complement each other. The book also explores the responsibilities that come with knowledge and power, and the dignity of honest work and courage in humble origins.
Good and evil are drawn in clear moral terms, but MacDonald avoids simplistic moralizing by allowing characters to grow and learn through mistakes. There is a subtle Christian undertone in the emphasis on trust and providence, presented in a way that emphasizes universal virtues rather than doctrinal instruction.

Tone and legacy
The narrative tone blends fairy-tale charm, moral earnestness, and moments of thrilling suspense, creating a story that feels timeless. MacDonald's imaginative world-building, lyrical prose, and moral seriousness influenced later fantasy writers, who admired his ability to combine wonder with ethical depth.
The Princess and the Goblin endures as a classic of children's fantasy, celebrated for its memorable characters, inventive danger, and gentle moral compass. Its mix of adventure and quiet spiritual insight continues to engage readers who appreciate stories where courage, faith, and kindness reshape a perilous world.