The Old Castle by George MacDonald
The Old Castle is a fantasy novel written by George MacDonald and published in 1875. The story follows the adventures of two children, Diamond and Nanny, who are transported to a magical world inside an old castle. Along the way, they encounter various creatures and characters, including a talking cat named Mr. Tanglefoot and a wise old man named North Wind. As they explore the castle and its surroundings, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of imagination. The book is considered a classic of children's literature and has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and timeless themes.
By George MacDonald · First published 1875 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature · 186 words
First lines
The brother knew well the castle old, / Every closet, each outlook fair, / Every turret and bartizan bold, / Every chamber, garnished or bare. / The brother was out in the heavenly air; / Little ones lost the starry way, / Wandered down the dungeon stair. / The brother missed them, and on the clay / Of the dungeon-floor he found them all. / Up they jumped when they heard him call! / He led the little ones into the day -- / Out and up to the sunshine gay, / Up to the father's own door-sill -- / In at the father's own room door, / There to be merry and work and play, / There to come and go at their will, / Good boys and girls to be lost no more!
Similar titles
- At The Back Of The North Wind by George Macdonald
- Hom Il V 403 by George Macdonald
- The Owl And The Bell by George Macdonald
- Mirls by George Macdonald
- No End Of No Story by George Macdonald
- Sir Lark And King Sun by George Macdonald
Genres
- Fantasy — The setting in an old castle and the presence of mysterious elements suggest a fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The narrative involves exploration and discovery, typical of adventure stories.
- Children's Literature — The focus on little ones and their journey aligns with themes common in children's literature.
- Mystery — The element of the lost children and their discovery adds a layer of mystery.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · mystery · medieval · castle · magic · friendship · courage · imagination · self-discovery · morality · mythical creatures
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Castle is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1875 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1875 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature, Mystery, Poetry
- Length: 186 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Castle by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph