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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
Mild; fairy tale violence and the dangers of Faerie
Language
None
No strong language
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate; the psychological dimensions of Faerie — the sense that the world is larger and stranger than we can fully process
What this book is about
George MacDonald's 1858 fantasy novel — the first adult fantasy novel in the English tradition — follows Anodos as he enters Faerie and wanders through a land of beauty and danger that constantly unsettles and transforms him. C.S. Lewis called the book 'an almost perfect work' and credited it with 'baptizing' his imagination; Tolkien drew deeply on it. Phantastes is not a comfortable read, but it is a profound one.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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