By Chuck Richardson, October 13 2026
Lilith: A Romance by George MacDonald is a strange, dreamlike, often baffling tale that rewards patient readers. If you enjoy other worlds, fantastical imagery, and theological musing you’ll enjoy this book. MacDonald was a poet, novelist, minister, pioneer in fantasy writing and major influence on C. S. Lewis.
The protagonist and narrator of Lilith is Mr. Vane, who finds a mirror in his home that is a portal to another world. Mr. Raven, an actual raven, initially acts as a guide and host, but Mr. Vane is soon left on his own, because he refuses to accept Mr. Raven’s invitation to sleep in his house. Mr. Vane wanders aimlessly through forests, deserts, and ravines and sees visions of monsters, scenes of the dead battling the dead, and much more. He rejects good advice, hurts those he intends to help, and unwittingly enables wickedness. He even forgets his own name at least twice.
This story often had me as lost and confused as Mr. Vane, because of the dreamlike quality of some scenes such as children living in trees and little explanation of the purpose of certain events. What I did enjoy was MacDonald’s description and depiction of many spiritual realities. For example, we reject truth, because it seems false or we just can’t bring ourselves to accept wise advice. Mr. Vane recognizes a key character as good, but says, “Alas, even now I believed him only enough to ask him questions, not to obey him!” (p 196) We want to do good but end up promoting evil. Mr. Vane good intentions repeatedly serve evil. The story also raises questions about freedom and identity: are we our true selves when we obey God or when we do what we want to do? MacDonald does a good job of showing God possesses an unyielding desire to save even the most hardened of sinners.
From beginning to end the characters say things that will resonate with Bible-believing readers. Here are a few examples:
A wealthy woman in the city of Bulika explains her attitude toward the poor. “When one goes poor, we forget him. This is how we keep rich. We mean to be rich always” (p 157).
With great difficulty our narrator faced the fact that he was infatuated with an evil person. “Could such beauty as I saw, and such wickedness as I suspected, exist in the same person?” (p 168).
During a battle, Mr. Vane encourages a young boy. “My boy,” I answered, “there is no harm in being afraid. The only harm is in doing what Fear tells you. Fear is not your master! Laugh in his face and he will run away” (p 251).
More than halfway through this tale we learn why it’s subtitled “A Romance”. As with most romances something keeps the lovers apart. The characters that form this would-be couple and what is keeping them apart will surprise you.
Lilith ended in a way I didn’t expect, so I was a little disappointed. I expected something more celebratory after such an incredible tale. MacDonald instead ends the story quietly with dreams of the final celebration that is yet to come.
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