"When a heart is really alive, then it is able to think live things"

Lilith by George MacDonald

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

Incandescent and blazingly truthful, George MacDonald's 1895 fantasy on Life after life, is not just a book, its a portal. To what end that portal leads, however, I will leave the reader to discover for themself. As the author C.S. Lewis credits as having "baptized his imagination," MacDonald's influence on the creation of Narnia is not difficult to locate in Lillith. Likewise, I can only assume that J.M. Barrie, a fellow Scotsman, was influenced by MacDonald's writing as he formed his Never-land characters. Lona and the Little Ones are (possibly literally) the eschatological realization of Wendy and the Lost Boys.

Yet for all the evocation of environments and devices similar to those found in Alice and Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia, this book is not for children. It may be for the childlike, but essentially, it's an undaunted expedition into and out of the depths of cowardice and narcissism. In other words, this should be required reading in every seminary program. (Lucky for me, my seminary did assign it. Thanks Chelle)

Lillith takes some work to get through, but the language and imagery will sate a thirst you did not yet know you had.

If you thought the Wardrobe opened up a crazy world, try Mr. Vane's bookshelf...


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