The Poetical Works of George MacDonald, Vols. I & II

Combining sonnets, songs, and ballads, George MacDonald’s poetry explores life, faith, and myth. Offering poems of varying lengths—from book long epics such as Within Without, to shorter pieces such as “The Unseen Face”—MacDonald’s verse explores the depths of human existence, allowing readers to meditate on the unspoken aspects of human relationships and to ponder the encounter between God and humanity. In the second volume of his Poetical Works, MacDonald demonstrates remarkable poetic dexterity that includes poetic commentary on Jesus’ parables, children’s poems, ditties, motes, and ballads. Individual highlights include “Little Boy Blue,” “Love’s Ordeal,” and “The Lily of the Valley.”