The Princess and the Goblin
The Princess and the Goblin is a children's fantasy novel by George MacDonald. It was published in 1888, possibly earlier.
From the backpage of the Wordsworth Classics edition:
- George MacDonald's second novel for children is widely regarded as both his best children's story and one of the finest fantasy tales ever written. The Princess Irene lives in a castle on a mountain with her nurse Lootie, while in caves beneath live a race of ugly goblins with heads as hard as stone. The lines are drawn for a fantastic confrontation between the Princess, her great-great-grandmother and her intrepid friend Curdie on the one side, and the gnome-like goblins on the other. It is a thrilling battle of with which must prove fatal... for someone.
JRR Tolkien is said to have taken his inspiration for "The Hobbit" from his early love of George MacDonald's timeless tale.