The Princess and the Goblin
The Princess and the Goblin, published in 1872, is George MacDonald's story of Irene, a little princess who lives in a house on a mountainside, and Curdie, a miner's son who works the tunnels beneath it. The goblins who inhabit those tunnels are plotting against the humans above, and Irene is protected by a mysterious great-great-grandmother who spins in a tower room that no one else can find, and by a thread that leads her through the dark. The book mixes adventure with a quiet seriousness about trust and seeing what others cannot. Its influence on later fantasy, including Tolkien's goblins, has often been noted. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Princess and the Goblin
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Princess and the Goblin online?
Yes. The Princess and the Goblin opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Princess and the Goblin free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Princess and the Goblin is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Princess and the Goblin in the public domain?
Yes. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Princess and the Goblin?
About 3 h 24 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Princess and the Goblin?
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald is filed under "Science Fiction & Fantasy" in the Vinteuil library.
