Latest News & Events

04 Jun

The Princess and the Goblin – Live Play!

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsEvents, The Princess and the Goblin

Saturday 7th August 2021 5:00PM. Mannington Hall, Norfolk, NR11 7BB. Due to covid restrictions prior booking is essential. Limited tickets available.

Goblin Market Theatre Company are delighted to bring the live theatre version of The Princess and the Goblin  to Norfolk’s Mannington Hall. This is an open air theatre event for families and children – be prepared to be completely enthralled by this world of fantasy and magic! Suitable for family members of all ages. Feel free to bring a picnic, but be careful of the goblins! For more information visit:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/princessandgoblin/t-rnzjxo?fbclid=IwAR3y-T-q0FQ_zMDP4eFBHkL7LHf2yIpWecIqD6e2oYuUdZ60yYOVF2v-yfY

05 May

Rabbit Room Reading Group: Phantastes by George MacDonald

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsOnline events, Phantastes
Phantastes Cover

MacDonald scholar and lecturer Kirstin Jeffery Johnson leads a read-through and discussion of Phantastes, providing context and guidance for navigating an often bewildering but profoundly moving and influential fantasy novel. 

The “live” version of this book group (including the online forum) opens May 24 and will include Zoom chats every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. CST for five weeks. However, you are welcome to join at any time, even after the live chats have ended. The discussions will be archived, and the forum will be open indefinitely for new registrants to continue reading and discussing the book.

https://rabbitroom.com/course/reading-group-phantastes

https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbitRoom/posts/10159213063744500

17 Apr

Malcom Guite & Brenton Dickieson – “Inklings of Imagination”

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsOnline events
Poster

Correction: The poster does not take into account the advent of British Summer Time. This event starts at 5pm UK (Noon EST, 9am PT). It will also be recorded.

On 23rd April 2021 at 7 pm Eastern European Summer Time (5pm British Summer Time/ Noon US Eastern Time) ‘Inklings & Kindreds’ scholar Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson will host these two delightful raconteurs in an exploration of the value of imaginative literature generally, and why the work of ‘C.S. Lewis & Kindred Spirits’ specifically is significant for the world today. As highly regarded scholars for their work, these consummate teachers are equally admired amongst peers and students for their deep love of and playful enthusiasm for that material. For them it is not stuffy scholasticism, rather, it is the Stuff of Life.

You can register here: https://forms.gle/mqWHvnLG44B9mAU18

More information can be found here

07 Apr

Through the Looking Glass Sesquicentenary Conference

By Mike Partridge1 CommentLewis Carroll, Online events
Alice through the Looking Glass

This online conference will take place, 4-5th November 2021 on the occasion of the sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Hosted by the University of York, all talks and associated events will be held fully online. Contributions will be a mixture of traditional academic papers and alternative formats and submissions are invited from all fields of study and practice, including (but not limited to) the arts, sciences, scholars of children’s literature, science historians, and also practitioners. There is scope for submissions from George MacDonald scholars for example on his use of mirrors, his literature, science and theological writings, and the organisers would be keen to include something like that in the programme. The website and call for papers are now live and can be viewed at: https://throughthelookingglasssesquicentenary.wordpress.com/

01 Apr

Open Table Conference – Unspoken Sermons

By Mike Partridge1 CommentOnline events, Unspoken Sermons

I’d recommend you take the time to listen to the full 40 minutes. It is a taster that will give you an idea of what the two sets of eight week sessions on the Unspoken Sermons will be like. Three friends chatting by Zoom, reflecting on the impact of another dearly loved friend in their lives. One throw away comment really struck home for me, that in the Unspoken Sermons George MacDonald “is moving us along spiritually, not theologically.” Faith is the process of our coming into alignment with what is real and true (God’s love, however, we imagine it). It is a journey into completion and away from our false selves. It is good to be reminded that a disciple is a learner, therefore we don’t have to have all the answers at the outset.

26 Mar

GMS Update

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsNews, People

I am very pleased to announce that Malcolm Guite, who many of you will know, has agreed to become the George MacDonald Society’s President (his latest “Spell in the Library” can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iht8xFofLkA&t=314s). We have also broadened the GMS board and the Officers of the Society are now:

  • President: Malcom Guite
  • Co-chairpersons: Kirstin Jeffrey Johnson, Mike Partridge
  • Treasurer/ Membership Secretary: Mike Partridge (Acting)
  • Correspondence Secretary/ Orts Editor: Donna Whatmough-Triggs
  • North Wind Editor: John Pennington
  • Academic Representative: Daniel Gabelman
  • Society Historians: Rachel Johnson, John McNeill
  • Web Master: Mike Partridge
  • North American Representative: Bonnie Gaarden
  • Central & Eastern European Representative: Denise Vasiliu
  • Committee Members: John Flynn, Jess Lederman, Robert Trexler

If nothing else, the last twelve months have shown us that, while it is great to meet in person, much can also be achieved online to connect folks with shared interests, who are geographically (or for other reasons) separated. This is especially the case with an international Society like ours. Going forward we see the Society focussing on four main areas relating to the interest in George MacDonald: Academic, Popular, The Arts, and Theology. Already there are some exciting ideas being considered, which will have implications both for our visibility and online engagement with the membership. It is early days and conversations are still taking place, but watch this space! We are always open to ideas and if you have any suggestions or skills that would benefit the Society, then please do contact one of the above. We would love to hear from you.

18 Mar

Filming the “Princess and the Goblin”

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsNews
Princess Irene at the bottom of her Grandmother’s Staircase
Princess Irene at the bottom of her Grandmother’s Staircase

Norwich-based Goblin Market Theatre Company is to produce a film of Donna Trigg’s dramatic version of The Princess and the Goblin, which was performed at Holkham Hall, Norfolk last year. Filming will take place using Binham Priory, an 11th Century Benedictine Priory north of Fakenham, as the set. For more information see this article on the Eastern Daily Press web site.

17 Mar

“The Believing Faculty,” George MacDonald on Universalism

By Mike Partridge0 CommentsResources, Universalism

Few topics generate as much controversy or misunderstanding than the question of George MacDonald’s view on universal salvation. Did he deny the existence of hell? Was he even a Christian? What exactly did he believe? Barbara Amell, editor of the quarterly Wingfold journal, is well placed from her research into press reports of MacDonald’s spoken lectures, to clear away some of the confusion and allow his distinctive voice to be heard. You can read her essay in full here.