George MacDonald

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Congregational minister whose writings helped shape modern fantasy and children’s literature. Born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, he studied at King’s College, Aberdeen, and later trained for the ministry. After serving briefly as a minister, he turned increasingly to writing. His novel *Phantastes* (1858) became a landmark of imaginative fiction, while *The Princess and the Goblin* (1872) and its sequel *The Princess and Curdie* (1883) remain enduring classics for young readers. MacDonald also wrote sermons, essays, and poetry, and influenced later writers including C. S. Lewis.