The Princess and the Goblin
By George MacDonald (1872)
Princess Irene in her mountain castle, the mysterious Great-Great-Grandmother spinning invisible thread, Curdie the miner boy, and the underground goblin plot.
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Chapter 1: The Princess and the Winding Stair
Eight-year-old Irene gets lost in the castle garrets, finding a room lit by a silver lamp where an ancient lady spins.
The Princess and the Winding Stair
Eight-year-old Irene gets lost in the castle garrets, finding a room lit by a silver lamp where an ancient lady spins.
[Complete Public Domain Work — Pre-1928 Edition.]
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Table of Contents
32 ChaptersEvery chapter below is pre-indexed for oral narration and easy 1-click scheduling into your weekly Charlotte Mason lesson plan.
Chapter 1: The Princess and the Winding Stair
Eight-year-old Irene gets lost in the castle garrets, finding a room lit by a silver lamp where an ancient lady spins.
Chapter 2: The Great-Great-Grandmother's Silver Spindle
The ageless queen who feeds her with pigeon eggs and tells her to trust in what she cannot always see.
Chapter 3: Curdie and the Singing Rhymes
The brave miner boy who knows goblins have soft feet and cannot bear children's rhyming songs.
Chapter 4: The Threat of the Cobs (Goblins)
The underground creatures plotting to divert the mountain stream and kidnap the princess.
Chapter 5: The Invisible Ring and the Spider Thread
The grandmother gives Irene a ring tied to an invisible filament: 'Follow the thread wherever it leads.'
Chapter 6: Following the Thread into the Cavern
The thread leads Irene down into the dark goblin mine to rescue Curdie trapped behind a stone wall.
Chapter 7: Curdie Cannot See the Grandmother
Curdie visits the attic room but sees only bare rafters and a wash-tub; Irene learns that belief comes from the heart.
Chapter 8: The Attack on the Castle and the Sunken Waters
The goblin army bursts into the cellar; Curdie stomps on their shoeless toes; the flood washes away the wicked realm.
Chapter 9: The Hall of the Goblin Palace
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 9
Chapter 10: The Princess's King-Papa
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 10
Chapter 11: The Old Lady's Bedroom
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 11
Chapter 12: A Short Chapter About Curdie
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 12
Chapter 13: The Cobs' Creatures
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 13
Chapter 14: That Night Week
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 14
Chapter 15: Woven and Then Spun
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 15
Chapter 16: The Ring
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 16
Chapter 17: Springtime
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 17
Chapter 18: Curdie's Clue
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 18
Chapter 19: Goblin Counsels
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 19
Chapter 20: Irene's Clue
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 20
Chapter 21: The Escape
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 21
Chapter 22: The Old Lady and Curdie
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 22
Chapter 23: Curdie and His Mother
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 23
Chapter 24: Irene Behaves Like a Princess
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 24
Chapter 25: Curdie Comes to Grief
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 25
Chapter 26: The Goblin-Miners
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 26
Chapter 27: The Goblins in the King's House
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 27
Chapter 28: Curdie's Guide
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 28
Chapter 29: Masonwork
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 29
Chapter 30: The King and the Kiss
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 30
Chapter 31: The Subterranean Waters
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 31
Chapter 32: The Last Chapter
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — Chapter 32
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