with musical interpretations of the poems and songs therein by Nick Harper
Written by George MacDonald in 1858, Phantastes is acknowledged as the first modern fantasy novel for adults, inspiring Lewis Carroll, C.S.Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and David Lindsay amongst others.
The book tells the story of a young man's quest for meaning in the forest of fairyland, who awakens a marble lady from sleep by singing to her and his adventures thereafter, as he pursues her.
I first read the book as a 17 year old, whilst living on the edge of a real ancient forest in the UK, learning to play the guitar, whilst pursuing a local beauty who lived on the other side of the forest..
Re-reading it now, I have been reminded how much of a profound effect this strange little book had on me all those years ago. The antiquarian, dense Victorian style only seems to heighten the esoteric nature of its allegories, mysteries and wonders. More surprising and moving is how much it seems to have resonated in my life and music down the years..
