George MacDonald 
Princess and the Goblin 

“ [A] little-known fairy tale that’s full of girl power . . . An accidentally feminist work of children’s literature.” —Bustle   A great influence on Lewis Carroll, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L’Engle, Scottish author George Mac Donald wrote this beloved fantasy in 1872.   Princess Irene is given a magical ring by her great-great-grandmother, who lives in a secret room in her father’s palace. Curdie, a boy who works in the mines, learns that the goblins who live underground intend to kidnap Irene and marry her off to the goblin prince. As events unfold, a thread attached to Irene’s ring connecting her to Curdie may be the only thing that will bring them both safely home . . . “A rich, vibrant tale.” —Star Tribune   “The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie are two of the most unusual and haunting fairy tales ever written.” —The Guardian