A powerful wizard, a ten year old boy, a dungeon, a chained prisoner, and a mother waiting for her son to return -- who could ask for more than beloved Scottish author George MacDonald presents in this delightful story! George MacDonald, a friend of Samuel Clemens ('Mark Twain') as well as of such famous European authors as Lewis Carroll, wrote this intriguing 1878 tale in the form of a long letter, as the title suggests, to American boys. While not an overtly religious work, "A Letter To American Boys" is written from a Christian viewpoint, moral without being moralistic. Enjoyable by both boys and girls as well as adults, "A Letter To American Boys" has stood the test of time and is a welcome addition to any library.
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.
Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. G. K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that had "made a difference to my whole existence."
Even Mark Twain, who initially disliked MacDonald, became friends with him, and there is some evidence that Twain was influenced by MacDonald.
MacDonald grew up influenced by his Congregational Church, with an atmosphere of Calvinism. But MacDonald never felt comfortable with some aspects of Calvinist doctrine; indeed, legend has it that when the doctrine of predestination was first explained to him, he burst into tears (although assured that he was one of the elect). Later novels, such as Robert Falconer and Lilith, show a distaste for the idea that God's electing love is limited to some and denied to others.
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