Order of Book Series
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George MacDonald Books in Order

61 books are credited to George MacDonald, published between 1858 and 2023; 18 of them appeared after George MacDonald's death in 1905. The first book is Phantastes (1858) and the newest is The George MacDonald Christmas Collection (2023). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
61
Published
1858–2023
Confirmed
1 of 61 titles
Pages on record
6,450 in 27 of 61 books
See all 61 books in order Printable George MacDonald checklist
Photo of George MacDonald, author

George MacDonald (10 December 1824 to 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Congregational minister, a pioneering figure in modern fantasy literature and a mentor to Lewis Carroll. Beyond fairy tales, MacDonald wrote Christian theology, including several sermon collections. The catalogue opens with Phantastes (1858) and includes David Elginbrod / The Tutor's First Love (1862), Adela Cathcart (1864), Alec Forbes of Howglen (1865), Dealings With The Fairies (1867) and Robert Falconer (1868). MacDonald series include Princess Irene and Curdie, Malcolm and Sir Gibbie. Subjects include fairy tales, Scottish fantasy and short stories.

How many George MacDonald books are there?

George MacDonald has 61 books, released between 1858 and 2023. 18 of them were published after George MacDonald's death in 1905. They include 5 series and 48 titles listed outside any series.

George MacDonald Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 61 George MacDonald books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Phantastes by George MacDonald (1858)
  2. Cover of David Elginbrod / The Tutor's First Love by George MacDonald (1862)
  3. Cover of Alec Forbes of Howglen / The Maiden's Bequest by George MacDonald (1865)
  4. Cover of The Musician's Quest / Robert Falconer by George MacDonald (1868)
  5. Cover of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, book 1 of the Princess Irene and Curdie series (1872)
  6. Cover of Malcolm / The Fisherman's Lady by George MacDonald, book 1 of the Malcolm series (1875)
  7. Cover of Last Castle / St. George & St. Michael by George MacDonald (1876)
  8. Cover of The Lady's Confession / Surgeon by George MacDonald, book 2 of the Curate's Awakening series (1879)
  9. Cover of Warlock O'Glenwarlock / The Laird's Inheritance by George MacDonald (1881)
  10. Cover of What's Mine's Mine - Volume 1 / The Highlander's Last Song by George MacDonald (1886)
  11. Cover of Cross Purposes and The Shadows by George MacDonald (1890)
  12. Cover of Alec Forbes and His Friend Annie by George MacDonald (1890)
  13. Cover of The Baron's Apprenticeship / There and Back by George MacDonald, book 3 of the Curate's Awakening series (1891)
  14. Cover of The Flight Of The Shadow by George MacDonald (1891)
  15. Cover of The Light Princess by George MacDonald (1893)
  16. Cover of The Peasant Girl's Dream by George MacDonald (1893)
  17. Cover of Salted with Fire / The Minister's Restoration by George MacDonald (1897)
  18. Cover of The Golden Key by George MacDonald (1967)
  19. Cover of The Golden Key and Other Stories by George MacDonald (1972)
  20. Cover of Getting To Know Jesus by George MacDonald (1980)
  21. Cover of The Wise Woman and Other Stories by George MacDonald (1980)
  22. Cover of A Time to Harvest by George MacDonald (1991)
  23. Cover of 3000 Quotations from the Writings of George MacDonald by George MacDonald (1996)
  24. Cover of The Complete Fairy Tales by George MacDonald (1999)
  1. 1
    Phantastes1858 · 197 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1858197
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Men and Women1858 · confirmed 1/4
    1858–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    David Elginbrod / The Tutor's First Love1862 · 238 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1862238
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Adela Cathcart1864 · confirmed 1/4
    1864–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    The Portent/Lady of the Mansion1864 · confirmed 1/4
    1864–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Alec Forbes of Howglen / The Maiden's Bequest1865 · 396 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1865396
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Annals of a Quiet NeighborhoodMarshmallows Trilogy #11867 · confirmed 1/4
    1867–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Dealings With The Fairies...1867 · confirmed 1/4
    1867–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    The Seaboard ParishMarshmallows Trilogy #21868 · confirmed 1/4
    1868–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Guild Court: A London Story / The Prodigal Apprentice1868 · confirmed 1/4
    1868–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The Musician's Quest / Robert Falconer1868 · 264 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1868264
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Cruel Painter1871 · confirmed 1/4
    1871–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    At the Back of the North Wind1871 · confirmed 1/4
    1871–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Princess and the GoblinPrincess Irene and Curdie #11872 · confirmed 1/4
    1872–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    The Vicar's DaughterMarshmallows Trilogy #31872 · confirmed 1/4
    1872–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Wilfred Cumbermede1872 · confirmed 1/4
    1872–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Malcolm / The Fisherman's LadyMalcolm #11875 · 268 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1875268
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The Curate's Awakening / Thomas Wingfold, CurateCurate's Awakening #11876 · confirmed 1/4
    1876–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Last Castle / St. George & St. Michael1876 · 288 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1876288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Marquis of Lossie / The Marquis' SecretMalcolm #21877 · 256 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1877256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Sir Gibbie/Wee Sir Gibbie of the Highlands / The Baronet's SongSir Gibbie #11879 · confirmed 1/4
    1879–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    The Lady's Confession / SurgeonCurate's Awakening #21879 · 251 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1879251
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    A Book of Strife in the Form of The Diary of an Old Soul1880 · confirmed 1/4
    1880–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Mary Marston / A Daughter's Devotion1881 · 409 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1881409
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Warlock O'Glenwarlock / The Laird's Inheritance1881 · 352 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1881352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    The Gifts of the Child Christ1882 · confirmed 1/4
    1882–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Weighed and Wanting / A Gentlewoman's Choice1882 · confirmed 1/4
    1882–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Donal Grant / The Shepherd's CastleSir Gibbie #21883 · confirmed 1/4
    1883–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    The Princess and CurdiePrincess Irene and Curdie #21883 · 256 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1883256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    What's Mine's Mine - Volume 1 / The Highlander's Last Song1886 · confirmed 1/4
    1886–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

George MacDonald books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Marshmallows Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood
  2. 2. The Seaboard Parish
  3. 3. The Vicar's Daughter

Curate's Awakening in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Curate's Awakening / Thomas Wingfold, Curate
  2. 2. The Lady's Confession / Surgeon
  3. 3. The Baron's Apprenticeship / There and Back

Princess Irene and Curdie in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Princess and the Goblin
  2. 2. The Princess and Curdie

Malcolm in order

2 books
  1. 1. Malcolm / The Fisherman's Lady
  2. 2. Marquis of Lossie / The Marquis' Secret

Sir Gibbie in order

2 books
  1. 1. Sir Gibbie/Wee Sir Gibbie of the Highlands / The Baronet's Song
  2. 2. Donal Grant / The Shepherd's Castle

Shoreline of Infinity Science Fiction Magazine in order

1 book
  1. 5. Shoreline of Infinity 5

Standalone books

48 books

48 George MacDonald titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read George MacDonald books in order?

You only need to read George MacDonald books in order within each series: the books listed here span 5 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with George MacDonald

Start with Phantastes (1858), the earliest published title.

What is the newest George MacDonald book?

The George MacDonald Christmas Collection (2023) is the newest George MacDonald book released so far.

Is there a new George MacDonald book coming?

No next George MacDonald book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

George MacDonald at a glance

Died
George MacDonald died in 1905, according to Wikidata.
After death
Books credited to George MacDonald are still being published after George MacDonald's death in 1905; the newest appeared in 2023.
Release pace
George MacDonald books have appeared about one every 3 years on average.
Length
6,450 pages across the 27 of 61 books with a recorded length, a median of 251 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most George MacDonald books, 12 of 61, were published in the 1880s.

What the George MacDonald books are about

32 of the 61 George MacDonald books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: fairy tales is tagged on 12 of 32. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.