- Unknown Binding: 396 pages
- Publisher: Allen & Unwin; Centenary edition, edited and enl edition (1924)
- Language English
- ASIN: B000880FA4
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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First Sentence
I HAD JUST FINISHED my studies at Oxford, and was taking a brief holiday from work before assuming definitely the management of the estate. Read the first page
Front Cover | Excerpt | Back Cover
I HAD JUST FINISHED my studies at Oxford, and was taking a brief holiday from work before assuming definitely the management of the estate. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Lillith is the result of a full and mature exploration of the "otherworld" by an author who knew more about the symbols of the mythopoeic realm than most any other author in the last 100 years (including C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Lewis Carol). If you're looking for a light reading story book, or merely entertaining fiction, this book is probably not for you. Some people taking it superficially see nothing more than an incomprehensible juxtaposition of images that reveres the qualities of obedience and submission. However, this would be to entirely miss the point of this story, which is about the process of inner transformation of human desire and will. It is very existentialist in that it places the responsibility for our progress on ourselves rather than on circumstances outside of ourselves. For those willing to dig deeper however, many rewards await those willing to ponder the story's rich (and often riveting!) tapestry of images. Taken further, the story describes the path of an individual's complete inner transformation in a language of symbols not merely arbitrarily arranged, but composed out of a deep understanding of the nature of the inner world of the human psyche. I would highly recommend this book, and regard it (together with *phantastes*) as possibly the best of genre for fiction / phantasy writing in the last 100 years. Madame L'engel regarded MacDonald as the "godfather of phantasy", and Lewis regarded him as his "master". Lillith is certainly worthy material for earning this distinction.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
As has been said by C.S.Lewis,MacDonald has a gift which is difficult to define.A mythopoetic painter,is as close as I can come.He uses images as symbols of thoughts,ideas,spiritual states,and as has been said,shocks you into a more completely awake state than many will ever reach in their lives. Mr Vane,the central character,steps through a mirror,(possibly the same mirror written about by his friend,Lewis Carroll,in 'Through The Looking Glass.')In the world of the mirror,he finds that it is "-the business of the world to so make a fool of you that you know yourself to be one, and so begin to become wise."This is the book to which C.S.Lewis was referring in his book title,'Till we Have Faces,'as he watches the dance of the people whose spirits have not yet developed to the point where they yet have more than a flesh and blood body surmounted by a skull with lidless eyeballs,their uncontrolled passion stark and staring,though yet more well-developed than the poor skeleton couple who now need each other as they never did in life,and now must learn to love by need.From bog-worms to the demon vampire Lilith,saved by her ex-husband,Adam,from the noble Mr.Raven,who has haunted a magnificent library for generations,to the precious,innocent little ones,who will not grow to be stupid,cruel giants,all of the characters,teach the reader something of his own needs,his own sad character flaws,and how only a holy death can purify his motives.As do his other works,this one has inspired not only Lewis & Tolkein,but Madeline L'Engle,who quotes MacDonald in her books,and may have awakened the same gift in Charles Williams,another friend of Tolkein and Lewis.This and his other book,'Phantastes,' may be the greatest fairy tales ever written. The writing may not be perfect,but the content is right on.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Told in first person. We experience the other world through Mr Vane's eyes and thoughts and wishes. His journey is wonderous and educational. Swiftian in its comparisons of scale, relativity, responsibility, choice, free-will. Melodic in its overtures, themes and reprises. I was as exhausted as Vane towards the end - I even skipped a few chapters to see what I could see - but that was the point, the whole point and nothing but the point m'lud - until you go though it, you won't be changed. Then, with new eyes both Mr Vane and reader witness the evil Lilith confront the same fate.
A humbling, beautiful, strangely comforting read.
A humbling, beautiful, strangely comforting read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stays with one after finishing
What I can say about this book is that it remains in the mind, a living world, long after it has been finished. Read more
Published on 31 July 2007 by Pillowtail
A superb working out of Christian Universal Salvation
MacDonald's fantasy novel is actually the best modern treatment of what St. Gregory of Nyssa's theology of Apocatastasis (Universal Salvation) would be like, worked out in... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 1999
Enjoy other worlds? This is the book for you!
I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, other worlds, thinking about strange but wonderful things, and using their imagination. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 1998
a tale rich in paradox
Rich in symbolism, steeped in paradox, this is a tale of a man's journey and his coming to terms with the frailty of humanity when it is seen in the light of God. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 1998
A haunting tale hovering between dream and nightmare,
LILITH is best considered in the context of MacDonald's life, and remembering his earlier work PHANTASTES. PHANTASTES he wrote as a young man (35), LILITH he wrote at age 85. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 1997
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