Book Review: Lilith by George MacDonald
After greatly enjoying George Macdonald's Phantastes, I decided to continue exploring his works with Lilith, and I'm so glad I did.
Initially, Lilith seemed very similar to Phantastes, even to the point of being redundant. Both books feature blank-slate male protagonists who get whisked away to another world in order to have a spiritual awakening. The difference lies not in the concept but in the execution, and I would argue that Lilith is a great improvement on everything that was good in Phantastes. The otherworldly, thought-provoking, highly symbolic journey from Phantastes is in Lilith a shade darker, a hint more surreal and dreamlike. The storyline is also more cohesive-- what seem like chance encounters prove to be crucial plot events. Characters are developed deeply and revealed to be far different from their initial appearance.
MacDonald weaves a fascinating mythology for his world, tying in the most archetypal elements of both Christianity and pagan tradition. In the end, he powerfully depicts salvation as not a one-step process, but a journey of renewal and sanctification. He illustrates the necessity of total surrender to God's will, and of willingness to endure suffering. These deep spiritual truths are illustrated in such a poetic, moving way that I know this story will stay with me for a long time.
C.S. Lewis was deeply impacted by MacDonald's works, and they played a significant part in his conversion to Christianity. I could definitely see shades of Narnia in Lilith, which made the story even more enjoyable for me. I would highly recommend Lilith for fans of fiction that promotes faith, wonder, and beauty.
