MacDonald George MacDonald 
Princess and the Goblin 

The enchanting story of The Princess and the Goblin, brilliantly introduced by Ursula Le Guin, author of the Earthsea quartet. Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors – and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is given protect her against the lurking menace of the boglins from under the mountain?