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Malcolm
Malcolm, a nineteenth-century Scottish fisherman, is captivated by a willful, adventurous girl whom he dares not to love, until he discovers a startling secret about her.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1875
About the author
George MacDonald
2,039 books2,652 followersGeorge MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 21, 2008
This was one of the first MacDonald novels I read. I liked it better than his more famous (now) fantasies.
After my second reading: A pleasant read. Typical MacDonald--a well-told tale with mystery, romance, moralizing and a too-good-to-be-true hero. Published 140 years ago, these are as good as much of contemporary novels.
Quibble: While Michael Phillips claims to have "translated" the Scots' dialect into English and retained "some dialect" for "authentic flavor," he could have made old Duncan's speech easier to decipher.
After my second reading: A pleasant read. Typical MacDonald--a well-told tale with mystery, romance, moralizing and a too-good-to-be-true hero. Published 140 years ago, these are as good as much of contemporary novels.
Quibble: While Michael Phillips claims to have "translated" the Scots' dialect into English and retained "some dialect" for "authentic flavor," he could have made old Duncan's speech easier to decipher.
June 7, 2018
After reading several of MacDonald's ideological fantasies, my wife and I enjoyed the relative realism of this sweet-spirited Victorian romance. "Malcom" has a more memorable storyline, characters and dialogue (although the Scotch dialect is formidable) than, say, "Lilith," which is more allegorically-driven. But what resonates strongest in all of this godfather of spiritual fiction's novels is the theme of grace. Like his Creator, MacDonald loves his characters, despite their flaws. To read MacDonald is to encounter the One who inspired him.
February 10, 2013
I had forgotten about George MacDonald. I have read quite a few of his books. I always liked how he wove his sermons into his romance novels. Quite a genius in my opinion, as I like to read doctrine and I love historical romance novels; he also weaves suspense into his novels. Win, win, win - for those of us who like it.
I am beginning to re-read this book, which I found in the original format (very hard to read and even harder to understand) available for Kindle at Amazon for free. I think I can follow it though as I have read it before and remember a little of it.
I am beginning to re-read this book, which I found in the original format (very hard to read and even harder to understand) available for Kindle at Amazon for free. I think I can follow it though as I have read it before and remember a little of it.
February 13, 2009
Wonderful story. A love story. Ironically, recommended to me by a guy friend from the Naval Academy. I think it is surprising how engrossing it is.
July 10, 2017
Well, I finally finished this, and really enjoyed it. I understand the author was a preacher, and I really loved the way he generously expressed the truth of Scripture and the Gospel through and from his characters in this story.
June 27, 2013
One of the best of his novels with great senses of place, characters, and what it looks like to walk with Jesus.
June 28, 2023
Please someone organise to have all his other novels republished so I may enjoy them?
June 26, 2026
“When once, through the thousand unknown paths of creation, the human being is so far divided from God that his individuality is secured, it has become yet more needful that the crust gathered around him in the process should be broken; and the love between man and woman arising from a difference deep in the heart of God…is one of his most powerful forces for blasting the wall of separation, and first step towards the universal harmony of twain making one.”
~*~
Random Shakespeare reference!
Have you heard of the play called “Bright, Particular Star” by Ron Reed? It’s about GMD and his daughter Lilia.
Anyway, I found an easter egg from this text…
“A thousand times rather would she see the bright particular star blazing unreachable above her! What! would she carry it about, a cinder in her pocket? …he could be nothing to her nearer than the bright particular star.”
This phrase also appears in Weighed and Wanting. “What bright, particular star were you worshipping now?"
~*~
In place of quoting the entire story, I’ll just leave some songs here…
Uplifted is the stone,
And all mankind arisen!
We men remain thine own,
And vanished is our prison!
What bitterest grief can stay
Before thy golden cup,
When earth and life give way,
And with our Lord we sup!
To the marriage Death doth call.
The maidens are not slack;
The lamps are burning all—
Of oil there is no lack.
Afar I hear the walking
Of thy great marriage throng!
And hark! the stars are talking
With human tone and tongue!
Courage! for life is hasting
To endless life away;
The inner fire, unwasting,
Transfigures our dull clay!
See the stars melting, sinking,
In life wine, golden bright!
We, of the splendour drinking,
Shall grow to stars of light.
Lost, lost are all our losses;
Love set for ever free;
The full life heaves and tosses
Like an eternal sea!
One endless living story!
One poem spread abroad!
And the sun of all our glory
Is the countenance of God.
🎶
Rose o’ my hert,
Open yer leaves to the lampin’ mune;
Into the curls lat her keek an’ dert;
She’ll tak the colour but gi’e ye tune.
Buik o’ my brain,
Open yer neuks to the starry signs;
Lat the een o’ the holy luik an’ strain
An’ glimmer an’ score atween the lines.
Cup o’ my sowl,
Gowd an’ diamond an’ ruby cup,
Ye’re noucht ava but a toom dry bowl,
Till the wine o’ the kingdom fill ye up,
Conscience-glass,
Mirror the infinite all in thee;
Melt the bounded and make it pass
Into the tideless, shoreless sea.
World of my life,
Swing thee round thy sunny track;
Fire and wind and water and strife—
Carry them all to the glory back.
~*~
Random Shakespeare reference!
Have you heard of the play called “Bright, Particular Star” by Ron Reed? It’s about GMD and his daughter Lilia.
Anyway, I found an easter egg from this text…
“A thousand times rather would she see the bright particular star blazing unreachable above her! What! would she carry it about, a cinder in her pocket? …he could be nothing to her nearer than the bright particular star.”
This phrase also appears in Weighed and Wanting. “What bright, particular star were you worshipping now?"
~*~
In place of quoting the entire story, I’ll just leave some songs here…
Uplifted is the stone,
And all mankind arisen!
We men remain thine own,
And vanished is our prison!
What bitterest grief can stay
Before thy golden cup,
When earth and life give way,
And with our Lord we sup!
To the marriage Death doth call.
The maidens are not slack;
The lamps are burning all—
Of oil there is no lack.
Afar I hear the walking
Of thy great marriage throng!
And hark! the stars are talking
With human tone and tongue!
Courage! for life is hasting
To endless life away;
The inner fire, unwasting,
Transfigures our dull clay!
See the stars melting, sinking,
In life wine, golden bright!
We, of the splendour drinking,
Shall grow to stars of light.
Lost, lost are all our losses;
Love set for ever free;
The full life heaves and tosses
Like an eternal sea!
One endless living story!
One poem spread abroad!
And the sun of all our glory
Is the countenance of God.
🎶
Rose o’ my hert,
Open yer leaves to the lampin’ mune;
Into the curls lat her keek an’ dert;
She’ll tak the colour but gi’e ye tune.
Buik o’ my brain,
Open yer neuks to the starry signs;
Lat the een o’ the holy luik an’ strain
An’ glimmer an’ score atween the lines.
Cup o’ my sowl,
Gowd an’ diamond an’ ruby cup,
Ye’re noucht ava but a toom dry bowl,
Till the wine o’ the kingdom fill ye up,
Conscience-glass,
Mirror the infinite all in thee;
Melt the bounded and make it pass
Into the tideless, shoreless sea.
World of my life,
Swing thee round thy sunny track;
Fire and wind and water and strife—
Carry them all to the glory back.
January 23, 2021
The thing I loved about this book is that it takes place inCullen, Scotland, a place we spent a month. I could picture all the places mentioned in the book and that was really fun. We even stayed in one of the fisherman’s cottages that Malcom and his grandpa lived in.
I found the story itself a little boring. The Scottish dialect in which some characters spoke was almost impossible for me to understand. I couldn’t figure out why the grandfather kept referring to himself in the feminine in the third person. That’s just part of the deal when you are reading a book written in the 1800s in 2021.
The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and you have to read the next book to find out what happens. Malcolm is book 16 in a many book series and the only one I’ve read.
I found the story itself a little boring. The Scottish dialect in which some characters spoke was almost impossible for me to understand. I couldn’t figure out why the grandfather kept referring to himself in the feminine in the third person. That’s just part of the deal when you are reading a book written in the 1800s in 2021.
The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and you have to read the next book to find out what happens. Malcolm is book 16 in a many book series and the only one I’ve read.
November 10, 2023
What a fantastic sequel to George MacDonald's "The Fisherman's Lady." I was on tender-hooks the whole way through, hoping it would end the way my heart wanted it to and the end more than satisfied! This book takes place in Scotland and in London and the characters are priceless. MacDonald has a way of weaving beauty, art and books into his stories which makes them enjoyable. If you haven't read any of George MacDonald's books, these two are a great way to start.
September 24, 2024
I really enjoy George MacDonald's writings. This was no exception.
August 11, 2022
It really helped to have the edited version without as much dialect.
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December 4, 2008Ya Mac
June 27, 2013
3 stars
I enjoyed the characters & setting in Scotland. It was a bit above my reading level when I read it, & I struggled with the vernacular. But an enjoyable story overall.
I enjoyed the characters & setting in Scotland. It was a bit above my reading level when I read it, & I struggled with the vernacular. But an enjoyable story overall.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews