ICFA Conference Report

[Fellfrosch]

Sounds like fun: http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=1029

Stacer, can you tell us a little about the paper you presented?

[stacer]

My paper was on George MacDonald's "Princess" books, The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie. I argued that the depiction of nobility in those books reflected a changing Victorian attitude toward nobility--presenting both Irene, the princess, and Curdie, the miner, as worthy of leading because of qualities they developed through the story. I mainly centered my argument around how Irene had to learn the value of work, because she already had very strong faith (but that her faith also needed to be strengthened), and that Curdie, who already knew how to work hard, had to learn faith, to believe in something he couldn't see or touch.

George MacDonald's work was a major influence on later fantasists like C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. He published The Princess and the Goblins in 1871 and The Princess and Curdie in 1881, so both of them might have read him as children.

I highly recommend the books, by the way. They're very little known, and just good stories.

[Fellfrosch]

I think I've seen a movie based on one of those. Tage and Tekiel's parents have it.

[fuzzyoctopus]

I can't believe that they're not widely known. I read them at age... oh... 8 or so.  Then later on I wanted to find them again and it took me forever because no one had heard of them. (Probably because they're fairly old).

The Princess and Curdie is EASILY one of my favorites.  I'll have to read that paper...

[stacer]

Have I sent it to you? You're welcome to read it.