Cover of Cross Purposes and The Shadows

Cross Purposes and The Shadows

    George MacDonald's Cross Purposes and The Shadows is a classic fantasy and folklore and fairy tales novel. Key subjects include fairy tales.

    On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 622 times in the last 30 days.

    It is in the public domain in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg.

    About Cross Purposes and The Shadows

    "Cross Purposes and The Shadows" by George MacDonald is a fantasy novel likely written in the late 19th century. The book intertwines the worlds of mortals and fairies, featuring characters like Alice, the squire's daughter who finds herself in Fairyland, and Richard, the widow's son, who also embarks on a magical adventure. The story explores themes of innocence, imagination, and the blurring of reality and fantasy as the characters interact with various fantastical beings. At the start of "Cross Purposes," the Fairy Queen, in search of amusement, decides to bring a mortal girl and boy to Fairyland. Peaseblossom, the Fairy Queen's companion, is tasked with bringing Alice, while Toadstool, a goblin, announces he will bring Richard. As both characters are drawn into this magical realm, they encounter various enchanting experiences. The opening establishes a sense of whimsical adventure, as Alice transitions from her ordinary world to a fantastical journey filled with spellbinding encounters, including swimming with fairies and encountering strange creatures, while Richard navigates the peculiar transformations surrounding him, paving the way for their eventual meeting in Fairyland.
    Summary from Project Gutenberg (automatically generated)

    Themes, setting & tropes

    Genres

    Subjects

    • Fairy tales
    • Children's stories, English
    • Fairy tales, Great Britain

    Quick answers

    Who wrote Cross Purposes and The Shadows?

    Cross Purposes and The Shadows was written by George MacDonald.

    What genre is Cross Purposes and The Shadows?

    It is usually shelved as Classic Fantasy and Fairy Tales & Folklore.

    Is Cross Purposes and The Shadows free to read?

    Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.

    What books are similar to Cross Purposes and The Shadows?

    Readers who like it often enjoy The Wind in the Willows, Five Children and It and The Happy Prince and other tales.

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