The Light Princess

by George MacDonald, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Overview

The Light Princess--the princess who "lost her gravity"--has been essential fiction for several generations of children. This new edition is a companion volume (same page size, similar design) to our edition of The Golden Key, of which Publishers' Weekly said: "Maurice Sendak lights the way through MacDonald's Kingdom with the most mystical, the most poetic pictures of his distinguished career." Now Sendak has made the pictures The Light Princess always deserved to have.
This is the only separate edition available that preserves the authentic text; it is neither cut nor edited nor "improved" in any way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374444587
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	08/01/1984
Series:	Sunburst Bks.
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	254,519
Product dimensions:	4.92(w) x 7.09(h) x 0.35(d)
Lexile:	880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

George Macdonald is the author of At the Back of the North Wind.

Editorial Reviews

For [this] elegant edition of the Victorian story that combines seriousness with levity and farce with fantasy, the artist has created pictures that...present the ludicrous element of the story; then become poetic and romantic; and finally are climaxed by the last crowning revelation of the light princess humanized by sorrow and love.” —Starred, The Horn Book

From the Publisher

Gr 3-6-George MacDonald's classic (Harcourt, 1988) is given the royal treatment in this full-cast production. Due to a curse at birth, the princess is all lightness-light of body, without emotion, and incapable of feeling for another person. The only thing she cares about is the water that allows her to be grounded rather than floating up in the air as she does on land. The evil witch empties the lake and the princess falls into decline. Only a man who voluntarily gives up his life can restore the lake and help the princess. Cynthia Bishop is a superb narrator with a wonderful ability to convey MacDonald's wisdom and wryness. The most striking thing about this recording is that the songs in the text have been put to music and are sung by Adam Wahlberg. The combination of his beautiful voice and the lovely lyrics is truly heartbreaking-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Imagine a princess lighter than air--physically and emotionally--who continually needs help to stay earthbound. This version of MacDonald’s witty classic is, unfortunately, unabridged: “not one single sentence has been omitted.” This means that all the unnecessary and boring parts of MacDonald’s story are there. It becomes a long, drawn-out story, in which everything ends up feeling extreme--too many words, too long pauses, too much inflection--making the characters seem one-dimensional and unsympathetic. The full cast helps differentiate the characters, but it’s hard to work up much compassion for any of them. This production may be good for an adult theology lesson, but not for children’s entertainment. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

DEC 06/JAN 07 - AudioFile