Alec Forbes of Howglen: Standard Edition (Unabridged & Illustrated), Book 2 of the Scottish Novels (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781917830362)

Featuring an introduction by G. K. Chesterton and seven illustrations by Carrie Stout and Arthur Hughes

Following the success of David Jack's two-column "Scots-English" editions (which feature both languages side-by-side) this new "Standard Edition" remains unabridged, but with the dialogue translated and formatted more conventionally, from the former tongue to the latter. Only the easiest Scots words have been retained, removing the need to decipher while at the same time preserving something of the Scottish flavour which characterises this classic tale.

George MacDonald's second Scottish novel, Alec Forbes of Howglen is a classic coming-of-age story which will delight today's reader as much as his devoted 19th-century public. Set in the environs of MacDonald's home town, it is a blended history of light and shade, in which floods and school thrashings are alleviated by outrageous childhood pranks, the delights of song and verse, and the growing bonds of fellowship forged in fire. Above all, this favourite of Father Brown author G.K. Chesterton is full of what he calls MacDonald's "celestial wit", and alive with that spiritual transcendance which is the hallmark of all his works.

"It is in exactly the same sense in which we pity a man who has missed the whole of Keats or Milton, that we can feel compassion for the critic who has not walked in the forest of Phantastes or made the acquaintance of Mr Cupples in the adventures of Alec Forbes."

-From the introduction by G. K. Chesterton