The Princess and the Goblin

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

708

Title

The Princess and the Goblin

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George MacDonald's enchanting tale of Princess Irene, who lives in a mountain fortress haunted by mischievous goblins. When she wanders into a mysterious stairwell, she meets a wise, ageless grandmother who gifts her a magical ring. This artifact becomes her lifeline, guiding her to safety and revealing a hidden world of courage, friendship, and subterranean magic.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in a kingdom of mountains and valleys, *The Princess and the Goblin* by George MacDonald follows Princess Irene, who is confined indoors due to fears of goblins dwelling in the caverns below. On a rainy evening, bored and tired, Irene wanders into a secret stairwell leading to a hidden room where she meets her grandmother, a figure of immense age and wisdom. The grandmother gifts Irene a ring containing a fire-opal and an invisible thread connecting it to the grandmother's cabinet, which will guide Irene to safety in times of danger. After returning home, Irene recounts her adventure to her nurse, Lootie, omitting the supernatural details. Soon after, goblins attempt to abduct the princess. Curdie, a brave young miner, discovers the goblins' plot and rescues Irene, bringing her safely back to her father, the King. The King rewards Curdie, but Curdie chooses to stay with his parents. The goblins, realizing they cannot capture the princess, devise a second plan: to flood the mines and drown the miners. They release underground waters that threaten to destroy the King's house. Just as disaster looms, the grandmother's lamp appears in the sky, signaling her presence. Curdie leads the King and Irene through the rising floodwaters to safety. The waters eventually reveal the dead bodies of the goblins, who have drowned in their own trap. Following the rescue, the remaining goblins become milder and friendlier toward the inhabitants, marking a significant shift in the kingdom's relationship with the subterranean beings. The story explores themes of courage, the nature of age, and the transformation of enemies through kindness, concluding with the goblins becoming like friendly brownies and the kingdom finding peace.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg708.epub

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Categories

• Fantasy
• Fairy Tales
• Children's stories