Description: Considered George MacDonald's greatest work, Lilith (1895) is among the most popular and profound fantasy novels of the Victorian era. This collection of critical essays is the first book-length study of this important literary work. The selections function in working dialogue with one another, driven by the central idea of liminality in fantasy literature. In addition to providing fresh interpretations of the novel, these essays implement esteemed background scholarship on Lilith, including that of notable author C.S. Lewis. Analytical topics include MacDonald's rhetorical strategy as a writer of prose romance, the implications of the novel's famous "endless ending," and the significance of Lilith in the development of modern fantasy.
Brief description: Donald E. Palumbo is a professor of English at East Carolina University. He lives in Greenville, North Carolina.
Review Quotes: "a worthy addition"-SFRA Review; "valuable...any serious scholar attempting to write about Lilith or to approach fantansy literature of the fin de siecle will welcome this volume"-Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts.