The Princess and the Goblin is a fantasy novel written by George MacDonald. The action centers around an eight-year old princess named Irene living in a lonely castle. When Irene gets chased by goblins she is rescued by a young miner named Curdie and they quickly become good friends. George MacDonald was a Scottish author and Christian minister who is considered to be one of the main pioneers of the fantasy genre of fiction. MacDonald's books influenced many great authors that followed such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Edith Nesbit. MacDonald wrote many classics such as Lilith, Phantastes, The Princess and the Goblin, and At the Back of the North Wind.