The Poet's Homecoming

The Poet's Homecoming was written at a time when five of George MacDonald's six sons were in their early to mid-twenties, and he was no doubt observing and pondering their struggles of growth toward adulthood. In this story, Walter Colman leaves the country farming life to pursue fame and fortune in a literary career. But he is actually leaving much more. With the love of his father behind him, the road before him is one filled with rough places that will take their toll. Enchantment and ideals must face the rest of emerging manhood.

Sometimes the profoundest truths come wrapped in the humblest garb. The tale of the Good Samaritan was not noteworthy for its complexity, but it remains one of the most striking teachings in the Gospels. MacDonald, too, when conveying the magnificence of God's Fatherhood, does so with an amazing acuity of vision and simplicity of word.

"The radiance of the message shines through with unclouded clarity the message that, as MacDonald himself says, obedience is the opener of eyes."

Michael R. Phillips (from the Introduction)