"Thus I, who set out to find my Ideal, came back rejoicing that I had lost my Shadow." – Anodos, Phantastes
How shall I compose a review of a book so penetrating and lovely? Indeed, how does one review a poetic myth? I think that the only way I might be successful is to convey to you a sense of the grandeur and inspiration to virtue MacDonald'sPhantastes imbeds in the reader.
C.S. Lewis wrote that MacDonald’s works “baptized his imagination” and that he “knew hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself.” MacDonald, through his learning, virtue and tender love of others, seemed to apprehend the very spiritual world and the kingdom of God and, further, had the writing ability to communicate that vision to us mere mortals. (Good Wikipedia article on him here.)
Phantastes is the story of a young man named Anodos, who newly inheriting an estate finds his way into Fairy Land, a place full of magic, knights and castles, giants and goblins, nymphs and fairies. In this place the inhabitants – and soon Anodos himself – begin to expect the unexpected and live in full assurance that nothing happens without reason. Therefore, it never disturbs Anodos that no one gives him direction upon entering Fairy Land. He simply wanders through the woods trusting what MacDonald leaves unnamed, though we might call it Providence, to guide his ways and teach him what he needs to learn.
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