Quote by George MacDonald
“ ’Tis now the very witching time of night, 419 When churchyards yawn and hell itself ⟨breathes⟩ 420 out 421 Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot 422 blood 423 And do such ⟨bitter⟩ business as the day 424 Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother. 425 O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever 426 The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom. 427 Let me be cruel, not unnatural. 428 I will speak ⟨daggers⟩ to her, but use none. 429 My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites: 430 How in my words somever she be shent, 431 To give them seals never, my soul, consent. 432 He exits.”
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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.