Thanks to Librivox I can now listen to books instead of not having the time to read them. I started re-reading George McDonald's Lilith this summer on the plane ride back from Colombia, but unfortunately I left the book on the plane when I was just a few chapters in. I mentioned this to a friend a few months ago, and he introduced me to the wonderful world of Librivox. Visit their site for more information. I finished listening to Lilth not too long ago after driving to Purdue, back home, and back to Purdue again plus some lab time.
I remembered Lilith being dark but good, but I didn't remember how dark and good it was. Some of the images evoked could have made Poe shudder, so beautifully written but fantastically grotesque they were. Death, decay, and disfigurement both physical and spiritual were woven liberally into this tale of the redemption of things twisted by evil. But along with the horror was beauty, compassion, and wonder. The
Mr. Vane is the protagonist of the story. He is a young man who has just come into inheritance of the family estate after graduating from college where he invested far more time in books and knowledge than in people. Through a series of odd events, he finds himself in another world (sort of) where he is befriended by Mr. Raven, a man of paradox and mystery. In this other world he learns that he is dead, though he believes himself alive, and that the only way to be alive is to go to sleep in the cold house of Mr. Raven. He fears sleeping there, however, and the adventures that ensue are what it takes to get him to realize that he really does need to sleep and really can trust Mr. Raven. This is a rather incomplete synopsis, but to go into too much more detail would require more explanation and the book might be spoiled.
MacDonald is clearly using sleeping and waking as a symbol for death to self and rebirth into the kingdom of God. Some people take more convincing of their need of sleep than others, but they all wind up there in the end. If all MacDonald meant to say with the book is that anyone can be redeemed through Christ no matter how long and painful the process is, I would agree wholeheartedly with him. However, he takes things a step too far. MacDonald asserts that everyone, even the shadowy representation of Satan, will be redeemed in the end. To be fair, he doesn't say that God will just decide to forgive everyone and be all nice and lovey dovey. He still thinks everyone has to arrive at the point of brokenness and surrender necessary for God to work. He just thinks everyone will get there. If you ignore several hints and outright statements in the last few chapters, the theology is excellent. Again, I can't elaborate without spoilers. I definitely recommend that you read/listen to this book.