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The Light Princess
The Light Princess is a short story that is warm and humorous, with a surprisingly poignant conclusion. A princess doomed by a witch to lose her "gravity" results in a silly heroine that has neither physical nor spiritual weight. George MacDonald's masterful teaching on the subject of sacrificial love is delivered eloquently in the events and characters of this engaging story.
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First published January 1, 1864
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About the author
George MacDonald
1,792 books2,527 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 - 30 of 839 reviews
February 6, 2026
A delicate parable of love, sacrifice and the weight of true feeling floating between laughter and sorrow!
(✿◕‿◕✿)
(✿◕‿◕✿)
September 19, 2017
*read for class*
This was a cute little fairytale!
This was a cute little fairytale!
January 17, 2012
The Light Princess is by turns lyrical, cynical, witty, poignant and ultimately captivating. How the princess loses her gravity and later regains it is told with wit and wisdom and makes for an entertaining read. The story is short, and can be read in under 30 minutes. Although it is a fairy tale, it isn't childishly written (probably due to the fact it was penned in 1864). Quite the contrary. There are words and phrases that might make it too cumbersome to read out loud to a young child, and I don't know how much a very young child would get out of this. Perhaps the prime reading age would be a precocious 9-12 year old (although it's a good read when you're 48 as well....)
I have two versions of this book. One is the version I am reviewing that is illustrated by Maurice Sendak. However, my favorite version is illustrated by Dorothy F. Lathrop. Her black and white ink illustrations look like something out of a medieval manuscript and give an otherworldly quality to the story. Sendak's illustrations, while well done, have a childish, silly quality to them.
Bar none, my favorite fairy tale as a young reader, and remains so to this day.
***
2012 personal reading challenge for the month of January:
Childhood favorites that influenced my subsequent reading life
Adult Equivalent:
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
I have two versions of this book. One is the version I am reviewing that is illustrated by Maurice Sendak. However, my favorite version is illustrated by Dorothy F. Lathrop. Her black and white ink illustrations look like something out of a medieval manuscript and give an otherworldly quality to the story. Sendak's illustrations, while well done, have a childish, silly quality to them.
Bar none, my favorite fairy tale as a young reader, and remains so to this day.
***
2012 personal reading challenge for the month of January:
Childhood favorites that influenced my subsequent reading life
Adult Equivalent:
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
February 5, 2026
A fairytale about what joy truly means. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
July 7, 2018
A glorious tale of a princess who’s lost her gravity. Perfect medicine for everything that hurts. Thank you, Julie Grippo, for telling me about this. What a joy.
February 3, 2022
A very cute fairy tale reminding us why gravity is a very good thing to have.
July 29, 2021
O my! what a topsy-turvy funny little tale is this! but it is so like the world, yet it is in the fairy tales realm :) what a nasty doom fixed on a baby girl! Savage and cruel act from the side of her aunty, though of a high rank, being the old sister of the little king with a big throne. Yet, what a caprice!
In between the reading lines I fell out for some time because in my mind all the time revolved, as if by repeat mode, the unforgettable novel of Milan Kundera ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ , recalling not specifically the scenes from the book but more the meaning behind the title, as translated into a sort of philosophical perspective, what is that to do evil that good may come of it. Well, my mind is at present floating in parallel lines, so I feel, but eventually I gave the story my most serious consideration :))
This charming tale revived my laughter and acted like a cordial to my heart! Such imaginary perfection though written in a very modern way of talking. I just couldn’t believe it was written in 1864. God heavens! They knew even then that love was not a fleeting thing :D I guess I liked the best the way the princess even stamped with impatience to be put up directly after the prince saved her from the lake, seemingly she was drowning while trying to speak some words…
A very romantic tale about a not so romantic girl. Upon my word, I was put in a very good humor and I approved of the method the author took to unfold it, that felt but too natural and expected. SO, this wonderful story is about a princess that values her freedom and independency too much, and that expresses her high disapprobation of the methods her family takes to keep her within limits. There is no dealing with her, seeming to be a very determined young creature. She was cursed by an awful witch (a family relation, still) to be lacking gravity (unable to keep her feet on the ground, unless she was almost chained…) but she shall be redeemed, and the worthy gentleman that undertakes the task, that is a prince in his all right, will be so good as to redeem her from her weightlessness, in other words by being a little heavy, and hereafter blessings are overpouring on them. Likewise in fairy tales, he will risk all consequences (even the ultimate sacrifice), failing not to show he could be manly, however the twist allows for a different ending, showing that it was richly worth his patience, and the trial. Well, I can heartily say that they have had amazing good luck.
The full love of the prince will be ready to acquit the princess of her only fault – but o my! even that was not a fault (he anyway beholds her with loving eyes), so eventually when the trial is to pass, the calamity itself will have humbled enough to make the princess turn her eye inward, so she gets to look into herself, and what has she discovered there? Why, o my, more love than she could have thought had lain in her unexamined heart.
In between the reading lines I fell out for some time because in my mind all the time revolved, as if by repeat mode, the unforgettable novel of Milan Kundera ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ , recalling not specifically the scenes from the book but more the meaning behind the title, as translated into a sort of philosophical perspective, what is that to do evil that good may come of it. Well, my mind is at present floating in parallel lines, so I feel, but eventually I gave the story my most serious consideration :))
This charming tale revived my laughter and acted like a cordial to my heart! Such imaginary perfection though written in a very modern way of talking. I just couldn’t believe it was written in 1864. God heavens! They knew even then that love was not a fleeting thing :D I guess I liked the best the way the princess even stamped with impatience to be put up directly after the prince saved her from the lake, seemingly she was drowning while trying to speak some words…
A very romantic tale about a not so romantic girl. Upon my word, I was put in a very good humor and I approved of the method the author took to unfold it, that felt but too natural and expected. SO, this wonderful story is about a princess that values her freedom and independency too much, and that expresses her high disapprobation of the methods her family takes to keep her within limits. There is no dealing with her, seeming to be a very determined young creature. She was cursed by an awful witch (a family relation, still) to be lacking gravity (unable to keep her feet on the ground, unless she was almost chained…) but she shall be redeemed, and the worthy gentleman that undertakes the task, that is a prince in his all right, will be so good as to redeem her from her weightlessness, in other words by being a little heavy, and hereafter blessings are overpouring on them. Likewise in fairy tales, he will risk all consequences (even the ultimate sacrifice), failing not to show he could be manly, however the twist allows for a different ending, showing that it was richly worth his patience, and the trial. Well, I can heartily say that they have had amazing good luck.
The full love of the prince will be ready to acquit the princess of her only fault – but o my! even that was not a fault (he anyway beholds her with loving eyes), so eventually when the trial is to pass, the calamity itself will have humbled enough to make the princess turn her eye inward, so she gets to look into herself, and what has she discovered there? Why, o my, more love than she could have thought had lain in her unexamined heart.
August 30, 2012
This is arguably the best fairy tale I have ever read. It's about a Princess who is bewitched at birth by her evil aunt so that she has no gravity and will float away unless tied to the ground.
While MacDonald's writing often struggles in terms of style and clarity, his understanding of people, virtue, and the redemptive power of Charity are unparalleled.
His poems have an innocence to them that elucidates why we write and read poems and all: coming to know God.
The witch of an aunt was a terrific villain, and one of his best I think. Her simple magical tricks and spells were delightful, all while capturing what is detestable about evil.
My favorite scene or moment was the one on the shore of the Princess' lake, when the Prince first finds her and accidentally sends her floating away into the air. The image of the Princess gliding over the tops of the trees and grabbing the topmost twigs to pull herself back down was indelible.
There's a pretty great audio reading of it available for free here: http://bit.ly/eHpekj
Five stars!
While MacDonald's writing often struggles in terms of style and clarity, his understanding of people, virtue, and the redemptive power of Charity are unparalleled.
His poems have an innocence to them that elucidates why we write and read poems and all: coming to know God.
The witch of an aunt was a terrific villain, and one of his best I think. Her simple magical tricks and spells were delightful, all while capturing what is detestable about evil.
My favorite scene or moment was the one on the shore of the Princess' lake, when the Prince first finds her and accidentally sends her floating away into the air. The image of the Princess gliding over the tops of the trees and grabbing the topmost twigs to pull herself back down was indelible.
There's a pretty great audio reading of it available for free here: http://bit.ly/eHpekj
Five stars!
August 28, 2017
Such a delightful quick read. I first learned of this story after hearing Tori Amos's musical. I checked out the book. It is different from the material Tori used. The Princess loses gravity after the king's sister puts a spell on her. She can't be serious and it is thought she needs to cry to bring her down by the doctors of the king. No one can make her cry until...
This is a fun and playful little read. I simply love this story and wish I knew about it as a child. A great story for your children if they like fairy tales.
This is a fun and playful little read. I simply love this story and wish I knew about it as a child. A great story for your children if they like fairy tales.
April 30, 2021
ai gente mas que drama só pq a menina flutua ao invés de andar
July 28, 2023
This is such a delightful fairy tale. I'm generally not a huge fan of fairy tales, but this one captured me the first time I read it in college, and again when I read it aloud to my children. George MacDonald was a true original.
May 8, 2015
Written by Scottish writer George MacDonald and published in 1864, this childrens fairy tale is very similar to Sleeping Beauty. But not as child friendly, probably because of when it was written and because some of the actions by some of the characters were rather harsh. Still, it was enjoyable. The light in the title does not refer to illumination, but to gravity, or rather the lack of gravity. It was an interesting concept, and considering when it was written, it seemed very modern in it's imagination.
September 7, 2017
As soon as I finished reading this out loud to my kids (9, 7 and 5), they begged me to reread it. Is there any higher compliment?
March 11, 2024
Very meaningful book and well-written in many ways. The voice is delightful. And it's interesting how this curse of having no gravity and never taking anything seriously has the side effect of never allowing the light princess to truly laugh either...lots of insights here.
However, it's just too hard to have a book this long where the protagonist is completely unlikeable in every way up until 90% of the way through. I think this could have worked really well as a short(er) story. Also, a nitpick but MacDonald has a way of being overly repetitious and drawn out at times. But he doesn't do it too much.
However, it's just too hard to have a book this long where the protagonist is completely unlikeable in every way up until 90% of the way through. I think this could have worked really well as a short(er) story. Also, a nitpick but MacDonald has a way of being overly repetitious and drawn out at times. But he doesn't do it too much.
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October 16, 2025Charming! I read this to fulfill Roy's prompt to read Victorian fantasy for Victober 2025. This would be a fun readaloud with kids.
October 30, 2025
Very much like Gail Carson Levine’s fairytales—sweet and lighthearted.
April 9, 2014
This was a thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale that culminated in a a beautiful picture of the kind of self-sacrifice that real love requires. While the princess was yet ignorant of his love, and while we were yet sinners, he died. MacDonald is a master of his craft: poignant, humorous stories that get richer with time.
July 3, 2016
I absolutely loved this book as a child. An evil witch puts an anti-gravity curse on a baby princess. Gravity will only have an effect on her if she cries. But she's terminally happy, so she floats, except when she swims in her favorite lake. She loves swimming so much that the evil witch drains the lake, and a prince must come to the rescue. I read the edition with the William Pene du Bois illustrations, which are fantastic.
December 17, 2025
This was my first time reading The Light Princess, and I had to press through the absolutely ridiculous full-cast audiobook narration edition (which I frankly hated, but it was what I got on Libby). I’m glad I pressed through, though, because the story itself is wonderful—a mix of whimsy and fairytale madness and gravity (pun intended). I really loved it, in the end. I will have to sit and read this with my eyes someday to see how it strikes me without overacting in my ears…
November 15, 2023
Read a good fairy tale every once in a while. It reminds you about beauty and love and the power of imagination. Good stuff.
May 5, 2023
A very clever book equally delightful to adults and children.
The long-awaited baby—a daughter— is born to the king and queen. A wicked aunt throws some powder into the christening water and chants an incantation that the princess would be "light of spirit and light of body." She has no weight and she is unable to cry.
MacDonald puns with all the meanings of light and all the meanings of gravity. This fairy-tale makes the reader think about things we take for granted.
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is a difficulty."
The long-awaited baby—a daughter— is born to the king and queen. A wicked aunt throws some powder into the christening water and chants an incantation that the princess would be "light of spirit and light of body." She has no weight and she is unable to cry.
MacDonald puns with all the meanings of light and all the meanings of gravity. This fairy-tale makes the reader think about things we take for granted.
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is a difficulty."
September 10, 2022
A cute little fairytale about a princess who gets cursed and gravity seems to forget about her. She becomes so light that even a gust of wind could blow her away. Naturally, only love can bring her down to earth. Very easy recommendation.
July 27, 2013
I reviewed a Neil Gaiman book yesterday, comparing his land of Faerie to George MacDonald's (favorably, I might add). I've come to realize that I compare a lot of fantasy writers to George MacDonald. Very few of them hold up.
MacDonald is an old master of the fairy tale, in the way that Rubens is an old master of realistic painting. MacDonald's stories are all unique, all fascinating, all beautiful and frightening and funny and evocative and imminently re-readable.
The Light Princess is one of his more classic stories, in that the main characters are a princess with a problem (she defies gravity--she's literally LIGHT), and a prince who wants to save her from her situation and love her forever. The problem they face is original and interesting, and the solution is mythical in all the best uses of the word. I love this story and I've read it many times.
Sometimes I wonder why Disney hasn't gotten their hands on MacDonald yet, but most of the time I just thank the stars that they haven't. (And I do love most Disney movies, truly.) I don't want to see these two characters get turned into cartoon characters that must appeal to five-year-olds for commercial success. They are wonderful and perfect as they are.
MacDonald is an old master of the fairy tale, in the way that Rubens is an old master of realistic painting. MacDonald's stories are all unique, all fascinating, all beautiful and frightening and funny and evocative and imminently re-readable.
The Light Princess is one of his more classic stories, in that the main characters are a princess with a problem (she defies gravity--she's literally LIGHT), and a prince who wants to save her from her situation and love her forever. The problem they face is original and interesting, and the solution is mythical in all the best uses of the word. I love this story and I've read it many times.
Sometimes I wonder why Disney hasn't gotten their hands on MacDonald yet, but most of the time I just thank the stars that they haven't. (And I do love most Disney movies, truly.) I don't want to see these two characters get turned into cartoon characters that must appeal to five-year-olds for commercial success. They are wonderful and perfect as they are.
August 20, 2014
Whimsically self-aware and humorous retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It's a novella, so the characters are given a bit more depth, and the situation is a little different - instead of being in an enchanted sleep, the princess has been cursed to be unaffected by gravity (except while swimming), and both prince and princess must rescue one another in order to live happily ever after.
This is one of MacDonald's more coherent fairytales. The narrative is straightforward, peppered with humor, and lacks the excessive symbolism typical of his fantasy. Fun to read aloud.
This is one of MacDonald's more coherent fairytales. The narrative is straightforward, peppered with humor, and lacks the excessive symbolism typical of his fantasy. Fun to read aloud.
January 23, 2018
Absolutely my favorite princess story ever. My dad used to read it to me as a kid and I can honestly say it was my favorite children’s book as well. It’s humorous and wondrous and shows the willingness to die for ones love in a way most books don’t.
(PLUS YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE FOR FREEEEEEE: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/697/69...)
(PLUS YOU CAN READ IT ONLINE FOR FREEEEEEE: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/697/69...)
January 15, 2018
Sweet, short and simple.
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January 29, 2026This brief fairytale gave me quite a few chuckles during the few nights I spent reading it. I enjoyed the clever witticisms and the unique spin on a princess story. As with all good fairytales, there’s the necessity to lay down one’s life for another to show true love - which points to the Best Story of All.
Shelving this one and looking forward to sharing with my kids in a few years!
Shelving this one and looking forward to sharing with my kids in a few years!
February 10, 2025
read for class
June 2, 2025
A perfect short fantasy read. I loved George MacDonald’s sense of humor and the illustrations in this book.
July 20, 2025
Very funny, and just a lovely fairytale.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 839 reviews