The True by George MacDonald (1860)
"The True" is a novel by George MacDonald that explores themes of love, faith, and redemption. The story follows the journey of a young man named Paul Faber as he navigates his way through life's challenges and ultimately discovers the true meaning of happiness. Along the way, he encounters a cast of colorful characters who help him on his path to self-discovery.
By George MacDonald · First published 1860 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 164 words
First lines
I envy the tree-tops that shake so high / In winds that fill them full of heavenly airs; / I envy every little cloud that shares / With unseen angels evening in the sky; / I envy most the youngest stars that lie / Sky-nested, and the loving heaven that bears, / And night that makes strong worlds of them unawares; / And all God's other beautiful and nigh!
Nay, nay, I envy not! And these are dreams, / Fancies and images of real heaven!
My longings, all my longing prayers are given / For that which is, and not for that which seems.
Draw me, O Lord, to thy true heaven above, / The Heaven of thy Thought, thy Rest, thy Love.
What this Textopian page supports
The True is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1860 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1860 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Fantasy
- Length: 164 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The True by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery.
- Religious — The themes revolve around spiritual longing and divine connection, with references to God and heaven.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential themes and the nature of reality versus perception.
- Fantasy — The imagery includes fantastical elements such as angels and stars, creating a dream-like atmosphere.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · spirituality · morality · self-discovery · imagination · adventure · mythical · philosophical · narrative · character development · redemption