Episode 349: “Lilith” by George MacDonald, Ch. 17-32
On today’s episode of The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Addison are back to continue their book series on Lilith by George MacDonald. Before diving into chapters 17-32, they talk about the great influence that George MacDonald was on so many other authors. Addison also shares some further information on the character of Lilith in the literary tradition. Then they turn to examining each chapter in this section of the book, including highlights such as the skeleton couple, Mr. Vane awakening Lilith, the people of Bulika, Lilith’s palace, the image of the horse, and so much more!
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Previous Episodes Mentioned:
Commonplace Quotes:
“But of course,” she said, “it’s very unexpected for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but the gospel is simply a catalogue of unexpected things. It’s not to be expected that an ox and an ass should worship at the crib. Animals are always doing the oddest thing in the lives of the saints. It’s all part of the poetry, the Alice-in-Wonderland side of religion.”
Lady Marchmain in “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh
‘When a heart is alive it is able to think live thing’. This book comes from the living heart of George MacDonald, but it also takes us to the heart of the Christian mystery, and Christ’s endlessly generative and resonant saying: Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but it if die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24, KJV)
Malcolm Guite, from his Introduction to “Lilith”
Sonnet LXXVIII: Body’s Beauty
by Dante Rossetti
Of Adam's first wife, Lilith, it is told
(The witch he loved before the gift of Eve,)
That, ere the snake's, her sweet tongue could deceive,
And her enchanted hair was the first gold.
And still she sits, young while the earth is old,
And, subtly of herself contemplative,
Draws men to watch the bright web she can weave,
Till heart and body and life are in its hold.
The rose and poppy are her flowers; for where
Is he not found, O Lilith, whom shed scent
And soft-shed kisses and soft sleep shall snare?
Lo! as that youth's eyes burned at thine, so went
Thy spell through him, and left his straight neck bent
And round his heart one strangling golden hair.
Book List:
Amazon affiliate links below
Lilith by George MacDonald
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous
The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Faerie Queen, Book 1 by Edmund Spenser
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