Phantastes — George MacDonald — the foundation of modern fantasy which "baptized the imagination" of C.S. Lewis and illustrates how voluntary surrender acts as the only pathway to genuine life

George MacDonald’s Phantastes is a seminal faerie romance that portrays the spiritual pilgrimage of the soul through the journey of a young man named Anodos. The narrative structure follows the protagonist as he navigates a mythical realm where he must confront his shadow of pride and undergo a progressive death of the self to achieve true maturity. Central to the work is the theological argument that so-called evil is often a necessary form of grace designed to purify the individual, ultimately leading to a state of self-giving love and sacrificial service. By blending Victorian literature with a sacramental vision of nature, the text serves as a foundational influence on modern fantasy, most notably "baptizing the imagination" of C.S. Lewis and illustrating how voluntary surrender acts as the only pathway to genuine life.