My first finish for the Victorian Reading Challenge after having discovered the challenge late is The Tutor's First Love by George MacDonald. It was published as "David Elginbrod" in 1836, but the version I read was adapted/translated by Michael Phillips.
The book is a great story of a young man discovering the true meaning of love, with great insights as usual from MacDonald. I disagree with some of his interpretations of the nature of God, but not to such an extent that I can't glean much good and wisdom from him.
Here are a few of the little pearls of wisdom hidden within the story:
...though no sparrow could fall to the ground without him, sometimes the sparrow must fall. He knew that many a divine truth is hard to learn, all blessed as it is when learned, and that sorrow and suffering must come to Margaret before she could be fashioned into the perfection of a child of the kingdom.
But though love be good, a tempest of it in the brain will neither ripen the fruits like a soft, steady wind nor waft the ships home to their desired haven.
Pleasing is an easy substitute for well-doing. Not acceptable to himself, he had the greater desire to be acceptable to others, and so reflect the side-beams of a false approbation on himself.
It is not house and servants and possessions that make a home - but loving hearts, hearts that do not grow weary of helping.
There is a touch of dealing with occultic matter in this book which could be uncomfortable for some, but be assured that it is not a thing that is presented in a good light by the author.
I hope you get a chance to read it.
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