The Johannesens have devoted the last six years to producing quality editions of the works of George MacDonald. I am not much of a fan of old typefaces, old books, or their facsimiles, but the physical beauty of this duplex edition of these hundred year old books reflects well the beauty of the teachings inscribed on its pages.

Among the essays in _Hope of the Gospel_ is "Sorrow, the Pledge of Joy", which I consider to be one of the all-time masterpieces of devotional literature. Anyone who can read it without weeping must have lived a life much different from mine. This essay appears in a heavily edited form in Rolland Hein's _Life Essential: The Hope of the Gospel_; buy the Johannesen's edition to enjoy this and other essays in their full unedited glory.

Illustrations are magnificant,the story is different from every day fairy tales too. It's a must have!

Though these 3 books are not what I consider MacDonalds best works, but they are still excellent. Phillips had done a great job of cutting out alot of sermonization, yet still retains the true essense of what MacDonald wrote that is as revelant in our day, as it was in his. All 3 books are great reads for anyone looking for a good read in Christian fiction, but whose standards may be higher than many of the so called christian fiction out there today. These are the books you want to pass on down to your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and anyone who loves to read a good clean book.

The main character in this book is thought to be patterned after the Author himself. It's the story of a young man who was raised by his Grandmother. Her narrow Calvinist beliefs nearly drive him away from her. The pure love of God in his heart gives him patience and understanding for her, and endears him to others he meets as he grows into manhood. This book also provides a glimpse into Scottish life in the late 1800's.

This was a difficult book for me, personally, in as much as I could look back over my own life and identify far too closely with Dr. Paul Faber, I formed an immediate dislike of the man. Indeed, he was, in the eyes of the world, a very good man. He was kind, compassionate, caring, and charitable. He was among the first to assist those in need, to give freely to the poor. Yet, Faber, not unlike the Pharisee at his prayers, saw himself as the very font or source of this goodness, and it was his smug self-assuredness and self-satisfaction that alienated me. The woman whom he chose to marry was, in my estimation, little better. She was shallow and vain and, like Faber, prone to self-pity, although deeply in love with and devoted to Faber. Of course, when two such individuals marry there is bound to occur difficulty. They are each so entranced with their own self-perceived purity, excellence, and divinity-both of themselves and one another-that there exists no option but the inevitable fall from grace. They place one another on towering marble pedestals from which the inescapable fall becomes all the more inglorious, painful, and, forgiveness, virtually impossible.

It is the dwarf (my favorite character), Polwarth, who stands tall as a shining beacon of light. It is Polwarth, ill-formed and asthmatic, who loves his God above all else and lives this love through his service to others. It is Polwarth who, with subtlety, humility, and self-effacing kindness, leads Faber and Juliet toward the true source of all goodness. Whether they will follow is, of course, their decision, for many who have seen the light prefer the darkness. Will you follow Polwarth, or will pride and self guide you further into the darkness?

This story centers around a young peasant girl and her growing love for the young laird (lord) of the local manor. The whole point of this timeless tale is a simple pure love of "brother and sister, man and woman, and a simple boy and his god."

Robert Falconer should, in my opinion, be required reading for all who profess the faith of Christianity. The plot is simple and straightforward in that it does no more than recount the life and times of one man, Robert Falconer. Yet the lessons taught would be well-heeded by all who proclaim the Son of Man as Lord and Savior of their lives.

The story vividly portrays the misery, despair, confusion, hope, and all-consuming search of one small boy as he makes the arduous journey into manhood-a journey that too few seem either willing or able to make. Robert is forced to put away childish things, to submit to a stronger will and greater power than his own. He learns, not from his pious and orthodox grandmother, but from a bitter battle of endurance between God and self that the Father and Creator of all is also the greatest servant of all. He discovers that it is not through ritual and church service, not through hymns and rote prayers, but through service and obedience that one may know God truly. In order to serve God, one must serve his fellow creatures. There is no other way-"faith without works is dead."

This novel is founded upon a search-Robert's search for his Heavenly Father and his earthly father. While the plot line may not contain the action and intrigue desired of many, it is a perfectly realistic account of the battle that ensues when anyone would truly know God. It is the conflict between life and death. In my opinion, there is no greater battle to chronicle.

I invite you, nay beseech you, to walk alongside Robert Falconer as he begins a pilgrimage to Eternity. You will uncover much you may have forgotten of your own struggles, or you may find that your battle has not yet begun. If you can read this book with no pangs of conscience, no convictions of guilt, no mists of doubt, no desire to search your own heart, no compulsion to seek your Father then you are, indeed, to be commended or damned.

George MacDonald's "Robert Falconer" is perhaps the best of his works that I have ever read. It deals extensively with a boy's search to know God personally while struggling with the concepts about God presented to him by his extremely strict Calvanist grandmother who raises him. It contains some of the best advice on Christian ministry that I have seen in a novel and I recommend this book highly. If you only want an entertaining book this may not be the best one since it is written in the phonetic Scottish accent, which can be difficult to understand. A few times I had to read it aloud in order to comprehend what he was saying. Still, the content is absolutely excellent, the story is entertaining (if you can get around the accent) and I am going to buy this book for my personal library when I can get some money together.

The first George MacDonald book I ever read and it permanently hooked me! I couldn't put it down, and neither could my teen aged sons. All this plus it manages to teach wonderful values too! GREAT!