For my part, I do not write for children, but for the childlike, whether of five, or fifty, or seventy-five.” I found that quote attributed to writer, George MacDonald, from his book,The Fantastic Imagination.
I never heard of George MacDonald before today.
But apparently he inspired another writer I have heard of. You probably have, too. The guy who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis. Apparently, he said that his book might not have been written if not for George MacDonald, and the things he wrote.
So apparently, Mr. MacDonald was a very interesting writer. Because C.S. Lewis was an intelligent guy. And I don’t think he would’ve been reading fluff ‘n stuff. Here’s something I found online about Mr. MacDonald:
He is often regarded as the founding father of modern fantasy writing. His best-known works are Phantastes (1858), The Princess and the Goblin (1872), At the Back of the North Wind (1868–1871), and Lilith (1895), all fantasy novels, and fairy tales such as “The Light Princess”, “The Golden Key”, and “The Wise Woman”. MacDonald claimed that “I write, not for children, but for the child-like, whether they be of five, or fifty, or seventy-five.” MacDonald also published some volumes of sermons, the pulpit not having proved an unreservedly successful venue.
I also found a very complimentary blurb C.S. Lewis wrote about George:
This collection, as I have said, was designed not to revive MacDonald’s literary reputation but to spread his religious teaching. Hence most of my extracts are taken from the three volumes of Unspoken Sermons. My own debt to this book is almost as great as one man can owe to another: and nearly all serious inquirers to whom I have introduced it acknowledge that it has given them great help—sometimes indispensable help toward the very acceptance of the Christian faith. …
I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself. Hence his Christ-like union of tenderness and severity. Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined. …
In making this collection I was discharging a debt of justice. I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him. But it has not seemed to me that those who have received my books kindly take even now sufficient notice of the affiliation. Honesty drives me to emphasize it.
OK, the main reason, probably the only reason I shared this with you is because of how generations influence each other. In the case of my own inspiration, one of my favorites is C.S. Lewis. So it’s nice to see he was influenced by someone else pretty much the same way. And the coolest thing about it all is how we all funnel back to Jesus Himself.
So, take from that what you will.
And I hope you have a mighty fine week.
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