The George MacDonald Blog

George MacDonald on iTunes University

2011-10-06T17:12:00.001+01:00

There are two lectures on GM by Larry Fink on the iTunes University. Christian Mythmaker: His Works and Themes and Pictorial Biography. The easiest way to find them is to search for Summit 2010 - the ones you are looking for are numbers 60 and 125. Thanks to Caleb Morris on the Wingfold Email List for this.

MacDonald Society - Event 2nd October 2010

2010-09-11T09:42:00.002+01:00

Roger Bardet writes: The Society is arranging a day trip to the Octavia Hill Museum in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, starting at noon on Saturday, October 2^nd 2010. The museum has George MacDonald memorabilia etc., and Mr Clayton, one of the administrators, has arranged for a party of us to be shown round. The earlier we can let him know the numbers, the better. If you can attend let us know by email and we will be happy to send you some travel suggestions.

New Book: The Near Loss of Everything

2010-01-02T13:12:00.002Z

In the summer of 1887, George MacDonald's son Ronald, newly engaged to artist Louise Blandy, sailed from England to America to teach school. The next summer he returned to England to marry Louise and bring her back to America. Soon afterward he secured a five-year position as headmaster of Ravenscroft High School in Asheville, North Carolina. On August 27, 1890, after less than a year in his new position, his wife died leaving him with an infant daughter. Ronald once described losing a beloved spouse as "the near loss of everything." Ronald's story is mentioned briefly in biographies of his father, but Asheville resident and MacDonald scholar, Dale Wayne Slusser, presents new information, unpublished letters, and over 30 illustrations. Also included are Ronald's essay about his father, "George MacDonald: A Personal Note," plus a selection from "The Laughing Elf," his 1922 fable about the necessity of both sorrow and joy in life. Click here for more information

2010-01-01T12:07:00.000Z

On behalf of the George MacDonald Society and www.george-macdonald.com I would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

George MacDonald Web Site - New Look!

2009-09-13T16:53:00.004+01:00

The George MacDonald web site now has a totally new look and I would be very interested in knowing what you think. Rather like painting the Forth Bridge, a web site is always a work in progress - so you can expect further additions now that I am able to step back and look at the big picture again. In particular I will be working on the front page to add up to date information and some pointers where to start.

You will also notice a separate section for the George MacDonald Society. We have now merged the two web sites for ease of update but I have tried to keep them visually distinct because the Society has its own voice and should therefore be distinguished from the other pages.

For those who are interested in such things the new site was created in Rapidweaver, a very nifty piece of Mac software that, while template based, offers a fair degree of customisation and makes very good use of .css. The idea is that I will be able to concentrate on content rather than coding, which cannot be a bad thing.

Birthday Present for George?

2008-12-10T21:10:00.001Z

The Brander Library in Huntly, Aberdeenshire (birthplace of George MacDonald) was gifted with many MacDonald manuscripts which have been digitized and placed online.

How appropriate that the website developers should have chosen to launch the site today - the 184th anniversary of MacDonald's birth.

Here is the link to their website: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/libraries/information/georgemacdonald/index.asp

New GM Facebook Group

2008-12-08T22:47:00.003Z

The George MacDonald Society now has it's own Group on Facebook. This is a place to chat, publish news and make new friends who are admirers of George MacDonald. All are welcome!

The Shack

2008-09-21T14:54:00.006+01:00

I've just finished reading William P Young’s ‘The Shack’ and, from looking on the web, can see that this this book has generated a lot of energy (including heat!). Somehow I had missed all this and only became aware of the book when I saw it by chance in W H Smith's in Manchester Airport when we were flying out to Hungary in August to help with a children's mission. So I had no preconceptions about it and avoided all the hype.

I'm not going to go into detail about the story for fear of spoilers - but from my own perspective I would definitely recommend it. You need to keep objective though - it is just a story. It's not scripture or necessarily even great literature (though Eugene Peterson in his endorsement suggested that it ‘has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!’). Indeed theologically it may at times veer into unorthodoxy (lack of hierarchy in the Trinity for one). But, in my view, that's to miss the point.

This is where I tread on thin ice. At times it is possible for people of faith (I hate the word religious) to aim to be so right that they become wrong. Twenty years ago I would have described myself as a card carrying evangelical - but the older I get, the more I realise that all our systematic understandings of theology are at best only approximations of truth. It's not what you know or believe but who you know that matters in the end. Transformation comes through relationship with The Father/ Son/ Holy Spirit and fellow believers on the Way. Life is a journey - you don't arrive when you become a Christian, you walk through a door. In God's eyes some significant things happen but the work of transformation continues.

This, for me, is where The Shack hits home. It is inspirational/ motivational in the best sense. It encourages you personally to enter into a more intimate relationship with God, especially as Father. At the same time it deals with some of the stumbling blocks that as 'recovering' human beings we all face/ experience to greater or lessor extents in our lives. Scripture teaches that in Jesus we can know what the Father is really like. But is that really how we relate to God in our regular Monday to Saturday lives. Young's depiction of God in The Shack shakes our preconceptions. Do you really believe that he/she 'is especially fond of all' of his children? Are you able to call God 'Abba', or "Daddy', like Jesus did? Each of us will respond to different aspects of the story, but this is what struck a chord with me on a first reading

Another criticism that I've seen online is of implied universalism. All I would say on that hot potato is that again I believe that God's love and ability to redeem his damaged creation is much greater than my definitions sometimes allow. Interestingly, in his postscript the author quotes George MacDonald and the Inklings as among his inspirations. That made me ask who were my 'spiritual' inspirations (humanly speaking). Many, but top of the list would be Simone Weil, George MacDonald, John Wimber and William Barclay. At least two of those (MacDonald and Barclay) have, rightly or wrongly, had the accusation of universalism levelled at them. At the end of the day though, if we are co-operating with God in his masterwork of restoring humanity and creation, does it actually matter? One of the quotes that struck home to me in the book is that 'God is a verb' - it is the core of God's nature to be doing. He is the active ingredient that transforms from the inside - not a passive external observer. God cares about us and his creation. Enough for Jesus to limit himself, become a man and embrace the cross. A deeper appreciation of that truth has the power to transform our lives

I will shortly be leading an Alpha Group (for new christians/ seekers) and my instincts are, while pointing them toward scripture, to recommend it. Sometimes the heart needs to lead the head. In human terms if the blood flow stops the brain dies. Increasingly we are having to think about new ways of getting the gospel across to people. There's still a place for solid bible study (neglected I would argue) but that, for many people, comes later in the journey. Once again, the heart of the Christian faith is a relationship not a list. We are not under law, we have grace to enter.

George MacDonald Society AGM

2008-09-07T15:05:00.003+01:00

The 2008 AGM of the George MacDonald Society will be held at Temple Lodge, Hammersmith on Saturday 11 October 2008. In the afternoon we are invited to visit Kelmscott House (formerly The Retreat) by courtesy of the owners, Mr & Mrs Birney. The exact time of the visit is to be confirmed, but numbers will be limited to 15. Those wishing to visit The Retreat should contact Richard Lines who will take names on a first come, first served basis. Mrs Birney has very kindly offered to provide tea afterwards. The exact time of the visit will be confirmed in September.

We understand that Temple Lodge cannot provide lunch that Saturday, but will check out the local pubs. There are several nice ones on the river.

Princess & the Goblin - Theatre Production

2008-06-24T21:01:00.002+01:00

Formed in 1987 the Outline Theatre is a Christian based theatre group based in Yiewsley, Middlesex in the United Kingdom. They are currently in rehersal for their Summer production of Stuart Paterson's adaptation of George Macdonald's 'The Princess and The Goblin' at St Matthew's Church, Yiewsley on 4th and 5th July and at Black Park, Iver on 19th and 20th July 2008. For details and on-line booking see www.outlinetheatre.co.uk.

This might well be of interest to those on the west side of London out towards Heathrow and Slough.

New Book by David Robb

2007-12-23T16:16:00.001Z

Alec Forbes of Howglen and the Condition of Scotland
by David Robb

‘It tells us something about the nature of George MacDonald’s particular genius that the current interest in him, both among academics and general readers, is a worldwide phenomenon... He has become a world writer, transcending the boundaries of nations and languages, and also the cultural boundaries arising from the historical circumstances of his Victorian time and place.’ From the Foreword

George MacDonald (1824-1905) is here studied as a Scottish writer: Robb analyses what is perhaps his best novel so as to illuminate both the mind of an important nineteenth-century writer and also the times in which he lived.

The work ends with a ‘Summary of Alec Forbes of Howglen’ and a list of editions published in MacDonald’s lifetime.

ISBN 978-0-9542643-5-2 Paperback 28 pages

______

For details of how to purchase and postage for where you live contact:

Ink Books
Ian P. Blakemore
Rosley Farmhouse
Rosley
Wigton
Cumbria
CA7 8BZ
UK

Phone: 016973 499 24
E-mail: sales@rosleybooks.co.uk

There is a reduced rate for members of the George MacDonald Society!

George MacDonald Quote

2007-12-15T21:40:00.000Z

Two people may be at the same spot in manners and behaviour, and yet one may be getting better, and the other worse, which is the greatest of differences that could possibly exist between them. (The Princess and Curdie)

Coming soon - Revised GM Website

2007-12-01T10:06:00.000Z

I currently working on a complete revision of www.george-macdonald.com which should make it much easier to navigate and find what you are looking for. I am making good progress but, as always, the devil is in the details! The aim is to go live by Christmas, so watch this space.

The Shadow's - New Essay

2007-12-01T09:58:00.000Z

An insightful essay by Michaela Fojytikova on George MacDonald's 'The Shadows' has been published at www.george-macdonald.com/the_shadows.html. Michaela is a Slovakian student living in Austria and would welcome your comments.

New Tolkien Book

2007-09-16T10:51:00.000+01:00

A collection edited by Trevor Hart, called "The Tree of Tales", from Baylor Press has just come out, with essays on Tolkien by Colin Duriez, Kirstin Johnson and others.

Kirstin commented to me that she thinks some people may find some of the stuff in there interesting, looking at how JRRT's faith shaped his writing, etc.

The Baylor Press Web Site can be found www.baylorpress.com

MacDonald Society AGM

2007-09-16T10:43:00.000+01:00

The 2007 AGM of the MacDondald Society will take place on Saturday, 20th October in the Gardiner Room at Swedenborg House, 20 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH at 2:30pm. The entrance is in Barter Street and the nearest Underground is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Line). Guest Speaker to be announced. Richard Lines

Pan's Labyrinth

2007-03-18T15:14:00.000Z

Last night I watched Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth on DVD. Having seen the reviews this was a film I had been waiting for with a great deal of anticipation. It was much darker than I had expected, particularly the scenes set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War (surely no coincidence that this was the same time as the D-Day landings in France). There is no attempt to disguise the realities of war. Choices are hard and can have consequences.

The 'other world' also has its dark side but there is also the potential for transformation, but only after a series of tests have been successfully completed. In some ways this is a 'Narnia' for adults. Both films features themes of 'disobedience and choice'. There are fauns and mythical creatures, a sacrifice that gives life and hope. The symbolism of the labyrinth and doorways into another, more magical (but still dangerous) world places the film firmly in the tradition of fantasy literature for the 'childlike' of heart so reminiscent of MacDonald himself.

The ending is all the more effective for being enigmatic. We are left asking key questions of faith which I won't spell out for risk of spoiling the surprise for you. I shall want to watch it again, preferably with the directors commentary. There are many layers at work here and it does not disappoint.

Diary of an Old Soul

2007-02-24T16:11:00.000Z

Marilylle on the Wingfold Email list (see www.george-macdonald.com/wingfold_email_list.htm) has begun re-posting some old items and she started with one of mine from 1998.

It's fascinating to see this again, almost as if it's from a more leisurely era (a different century certainly!) when personally I seemed to have much more time and space to ponder such things. What's changed? In a word - work! The demands and stress ramp up year on year and 2007 already looks like being a corker with substantial targets to achieve. For those of you who are of faith I would appreciate your prayers. That I get the balance right between work and life, for energy and good health, and for direction for the future.

That goes a way to explaining why I have been such an occasional poster on Wingfold lately. I keep an eye on what goes on though and it's great to see how this group has evolved into something quite mature. In the Wild West of the web such places are rare and to be valued. Everyone who participates there should be proud of the part each of them plays in keeping the fragile bloom alive. I'm sure there is a George MacDonald quote in there somewhere, something about 'reviving fragrances' perhaps? :-)

__________

I am browsing through some old Wingfold files I put on floppies. I thought a few re-postings may be of interest. M

This one form Mike Partridge - April 1998.

I'm inclined to agree with the suggestion that the Diary of an Old Soul is, in many ways, like a modern day Book of Psalms. There is the same brutal honesty and expression of doubt and perplexity as well as faith and certainty by the writer. Somehow, in a work like this, the light and shade seems necessary if it is to be relevant to our lives. I guess I just don't relate very well to perfection (hence the need for the incarnation of Jesus -- he became like me so that I might become more like him)!

One of the things that I appreciate about MacDonald is that he never gives the impression that he has somehow "arrived" -- he is on the journey with me. What he does so successfully is to give me a language and symbols that help me to make sense of my own experiences, hopes and fears. Sometimes the style (the Diary of an Old Soul is not great poetry, however profound the ideas it contains are) gets in way -- it seems to me, though, that in the fantasies and the best of the stories the style, imagery and ideas all come together in a powerful and unique way.

Roger Bardet's 2nd Post

2007-02-03T10:51:00.000Z

Let's have as many of us as possible contributing to this Blog.

Suggestions, please, for events this year.

If you're having difficulty in contributing, please contact Mike or me.

Roger Bardet at last signing on to G Mac Blog

2007-01-20T11:02:00.000Z

20th January 2007

Hoping the "learning curve" won't be too jagged!

Best wishes to all & watch this space.

CSL & Inklings Conference in Texas March 23-24

2007-01-17T02:26:00.000Z

Less than 2 years after the centennial George MacDonald conference in 2005 was held in Waco, Texas (Baylor University) there will be another Texas conference with many George MacDonald scholars on hand. This is not to be missed if you are fortunate enough to get there. Here's some of the line-up:

Dr. Rolland Hein - Author and editor of many books by and about MacDonald . . . most recently author of a pictorial biography of MacDonald with Dr. Larry Fink - George MacDonald: Images of His World.

Dr. Larry Fink - The local host of the conference and (alluded to above) the photographer for the MacDonald pictorial biography and MacDonald maven in his own right. Maybe he is too busy or too modest to mention this on the conference website. But for those who haven't seen his MacDonald slide show it would be nice if he offers it sometime during the weekend. Those with questions about the conference may email Larry at lfink@hsutx.com or go to the website of Hardin-Simmons University http://hsutx.edu/cslewis/#theconference

Dr. Kerry Dearborn - Prof of theology at Seattle Pacific and author of the new book Baptised Imagination about the theology and imagination of George MacDonald. I'll be reviewing this book another time. The only disappointment is the price-tag on the book - $95 dollars. Have your university/college library order a copy.

Dr. David Neuhauser - Popular speaker on MacDonald and author of a book of selected quotes of MacDonald. Now retired from Taylor University he has written a variety of essays on MacDonald and is a prime organizer of the amazing Inklings conferences at Taylor University held every other year. If it's hard for you to get to Texas, consider traveling to Indiana when David puts together a terrific program.

The headline speaker is Dr. Thomas Howard, Inklings scholar - popular speaker and author of over 10 books including a book on Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and most recently a book on T.S. Elliot's Four Quartets. I had the privilege of having Dr. Howard as a professor when I attended Gordon College in the 1970s. Since then we have both "swum the Tiber" and are among the many Catholic admirers of C.S. Lewis, MacDonald, Chesterton, etc.

Someone else who will be presenting at the conference but is not on the official website at this time is Miho Yamaguchi of Japan. Miho is a MacDonald scholar who contributed a wonderful article to North Wind a few years ago and who has adapted her doctoral thesis on MacDonald into an affordable book. (Sorry, Kerry, I had to say it). With luck she will have copies available at the conference. If not, I will be posting ordering information as soon as I get it myself.

I should also mention that the conference is sponsored by the C.S. Lewis and Inklings Society headquartered in (I think) Tulsa, Oklahoma. Two of their guiding lights and founding members recently contributed articles for CSL: The Bulletin of the New York C.S. Lewis. One of the articles is viewable by going to the home page of their website http://www.nysclsociety.com/

submitted by Bob Trexler

New York City, Talk - April 13th, 2007

2007-01-02T00:05:00.000Z

Bob Trexler will be giving a talk on George MacDonald in New York City on April 13th, 2007. The title for his talk is “George MacDonald: Mere Christian?” and it will be presented at the New York C.S. Lewis Society. Further details will follow nearer the time.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T19:22:00.000Z

Whether you are a friend of the George MacDonald Society or have arrived here via www.george-macdonald.com, I would just like to take the opportunity to wish all our visitors a very happy New Year!

Our New Blog

2006-12-31T22:39:00.000Z

This blog is for everyone who values the ideas and writings of George MacDonald. Through it we intend to give notice of upcoming events, reviews and general ruminations on this fascinating, but often misunderstood writer. George MacDonald appeals to a wide spectrum of people and that diversity will be reflected here. Please feel free to add your own comments to the posts.

Published under the auspices of the George MacDonald Society it will also include 'notices' from the George MacDonald WWW Page (www.george-macdonald.com) and will hopefully become the the first port of call for news in the ‘macdonaldsphere’.