
The Princess and Curdie
'The Princess and Curdie' Summary
Two years have passed since the last book, and Princess Irene and her father go to Gwyntystorm, while Curdie (a miner boy who is the friend of the Princess) stays at home with his mother and father.
As the years go by, Curdie begins to hunt for pleasure. He also slowly begins to doubt Irene's story of her great-great grandmother. One day, he shoots down a white pigeon. Curdie then remembers Irene's tale of her grandmother's pigeons, assumes the one he has shot down was one of them, and becomes aware of his folly. A light appears at the roof of the castle, and Curdie follows it. There, Curdie meets the old Princess, who appears small and withered, contrary to Irene's descriptions.
The old Princess gently tells Curdie of his wrong thinking, and he confesses. Because he now believes, the pigeon heals. He is then told to keep his bow and arrows but use them for good instead of bad things. The old Princess then tells Curdie he must go on a special quest. Before she sends him, she burns his hands in her special fire of roses. His cleansed hands now possess the ability to be able to feel the hands of his fellow men and detect what kind of person (or beast) they are on the inside. She also gives Curdie's father a special emerald to keep while Curdie is away on the quest. If Curdie is in danger, the emerald will change colour, to alert his father to go after him.
Curdie is given a monstrous yet friendly beast, Lina, as his only travelling companion. Lina saves him from many perils as they travel to Gwyntystorm. Once they reach their destination, Curdie's task becomes clear: he finds himself at the King's palace, where the King lies weak and ill in his bedchamber with his daughter Irene his only nurse.
Having sneaked in to spy on what is going on and eavesdrop on the palace servants, Curdie realises that the King's "doctor" is actually slowly poisoning him. The palace servants and courtiers have all become morally corrupt and enemies of the king. No one can be trusted and both the Princess and the King are in mortal danger, so Curdie realises why the Old Princess has sent him: he must save the king (Irene's father) from a plot to poison him and steal his kingdom by forcibly marrying his daughter Princess Irene to an evil pretender. With the aid of the old Princess, who has been disguised as a housemaid, the king, his daughter, and the kingdom are saved. Curdie and Princess Irene are later married and rule the kingdom after the king dies. However, they have no children, and after they both die, the kingdom deteriorates until one day it collapses and is never spoken of again.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1883Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

George MacDonald
England, Scotland
George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of...
Books by George MacDonaldDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

ABC: Petits Contes by Jules Lemaître
« ABC: Petits Contes » est une collection de 25 contes courts écrits par Jules Lemaître, un auteur qui aimait beaucoup les enfants. Ces histoires, gé...

Wouldbegoods, Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit
The Bastable children, first met in The Treasure Seekers, are sent to stay in the countryside; is it large enough to contain their exuberant activitie...

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
A modern day legend, Robin Hood is an archetypal hero of the common people who goes to great lengths to famously take from the rich and give to the po...

World's Best Poetry, Volume 6: Fancy and Sentiment (Part 1) by Various
The sixth volume in the 'World's Best Poetry' series, this collection edited by Bliss Carman, gathers poems that explore the realms of fancy and senti...

Kleine Gedigten voor Kinderen by Hieronymus van Alphen
A collection of short poems for children by Dutch poet Hieronymus van Alphen, first published in 1807. The poems are simple and didactic, teaching chi...

The Jumping Kangaroo and the Apple Butter Cat by John Walker Harrington
"Embark on a whimsical adventure where a jumping kangaroo and an apple butter cat come together in a delightful tale of friendship and mischief. Join...

The Enchanted Castle: Fairy Tales from Flowerland by Hartwell James
A collection of stories explaining flowers that seem wholly fabricated by the author himself. Instead of focusing on the original intent of European l...

Popular Tales from the Norse by Sir George Webbe Dasent
The most careless reader can hardly fail to see that many of the Tales in this volume have the same groundwork as those with which he has been familia...

Pinafore Picture Book: The Story Of H.M.S. Pinafore by W. S. Gilbert
This charming adaptation of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, *H.M.S. Pinafore*, is a delightful read for children and adults alike. Written...

Home Education Series Vol. II: Parents and Children by Charlotte Mason
In 'Parents and Children,' Charlotte Mason presents her philosophy of home education, focusing on the role of parents as educators. She emphasizes a...
Reviews for The Princess and Curdie
No reviews posted or approved, yet...