Literature in English, British Isles Commons^™

Orts 66, 2004, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

About thirty members from both Societies attended an enjoyable and rewarding one day conference on Saturday 30th October at which two speakers from each Society gave papers on the treatment of the treatment of the character of Lilith in Williams's Descent into Hell and MacDonald's Lilith and other works. Brian Horn gave a concise, but detailed paper on the Williams novel, concentrating particularly on the character of Lawrence Wentworth who, through his own self-love and disregard for others, does literally 'descend into hell'. Brian read his concise, but detailed and erudite, paper in thirty five minutes, allowing plenty of time …

Orts 63, 2003, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Society’s AGM will be on Saturday 4th October 2003 at 2.30pm in the Gardiner Room at Swedenborg House, 20 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH. The speaker after the conclusion of formal business will be Fernando Soto on ‘George MacDonald, Lewis Carroll and Classical Mythology’. The formal business of the meeting will consist of minutes of the previous Meeting, the Chairman’s report, report from the Hon. Treasurer and Membership Secretary and annual accounts and election of officers and committee.

Orts 62, 2002, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

It is always a pleasure to find a contemporary book, pamphlet or magazine article previously unrecorded in the bibliographies. Recently I came across-'The Elocutionist' with a portrait of George MacDonald on the cover and two poems for recitation within its pages: 'Abu Midjan' and 'After an Old Legend' - both from 'Parables and Ballads' (being Vol. IV of 'Works of Fancy and Imagination’ 1871). It is good to know that the public at large were introduced to MacDonald's poetry in this way. I have practised reciting the poems (on my own) and would agree that they are worth reading out …

Orts 61, 2002, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Society was founded in 1980, seventy-five years after MacDonald's death in 1905. It exists to celebrate and promote the works of George MacDonald and provide a forum for the exchange of views and information about his life and work.

Members of the Society receive the quarterly newsletter Orts (meaning 'scraps') and the annual journal, North Wind. There are annual one-day conferences for members in varying locations throughout Britain.

Orts 60, 2001, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The George MacDonald Society

The Society was founded in 1980, seventy-five years after MacDonald's death in 1905. It exists to celebrate and promote the works of George MacDonald and provide a forum for the exchange of views and information about his life and work.

Members of the Society receive the quarterly newsletter Orts (meaning 'scraps') and the annual journal, North Wind. There are annual one-day conferences for members in varying locations throughout Britain.

Orts 59, 2001, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Society was founded in 1980, seventy-five years after MacDonald's death in 1905. It exists to celebrate and promote the works of George MacDonald and provide a forum for the exchange of views and information about his life and work.

Orts 56, 2000, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Just as Bunyan and Bedford go together, so do George MacDonald and The Pilgrim's Progress to those who are interested in the life of George MacDonald.

This lifelong connection began in MacDonald's childhood when he read and enjoyed The Pilgrim's Progress and continued through to his identification in later life with the character of 'Greatheart' by his friends.

Orts 57, 2000, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

After a lot of problems, our plans to involve the MacDonald Society in this important event are now in place, thanks to the encouragement of many people. When it seemed that cost would prevent us from having an official display/stall, the Aberdeenshire Library Service generously offered us the use of the main meeting-room at the Brander Library and Museum building in Huntly Town Square. There is a fine MacDonald display case in the Museum full of objects such as costumes from the family's performances of The Pilgrim's Progress and we hope that visitors will go on from there to visit …

Orts 58, 2000, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at Swedenborg House, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London WCI at 7 for 7.30 pm. on Friday October 20th. Swedenborg House is just a few minutes walk from Holborn Underground Station, towards the British Museum.

After the business meeting the Revd John Pridmore, Vicar of Hackney, will speak on MacDonald's mentors, with particular reference to A.J. Scott. John has twice previously addressed the Society at its AGM and his talks are very popular.

Orts 55, 2000, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

In my capacity as Chairman of the Society I attended the service of thanksgiving for the life and work of Sir Hugh Casson CH KCVO and his wife Lady Casson at St Paul's Cathedral on Monday 29th November 1999. Sir Hugh, the famous architect and artist and former President of the Royal Academy, was a Vice-President of the George MacDonald Society, as was his wife. Lady Casson nee Margaret (Reta) MacDonald Troup, a great-niece of George MacDonald and younger sister of our founder member and long-standing Committee Member Winifred (Freda) Levson, died just two weeks before the date arranged for …

Orts 50, 1999, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The relatively small number of members who were able to attend the Society's AGM in London on October 16th were privileged to hear a most interesting and informative talk about the life and work of George MacDonald's great friend, the social reformer Octavia Hill (1838-1912). The talk was given by Robert Whelan, Assistant Director of the Health and Welfare Unit at the Institute of Economic Affairs, the independent 'think-tank' whose views were said to have been particularly influential when Margaret Thatcher was in power. Robert Whelan, who has a degree in English from Cambridge, has written widely on social policy …

Orts 51, 1999, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Chesterton/MacDonald Conference

This one-day conference will take place at Plater College, Headington, Oxford on Saturday September 25th 1999. The cost, including morning coffee and lunch, will not exceed £15. It is the principal U.K. event for the Society in 1999 and we hope that as many members and friends as possible will attend. Oxford is easily accessible by road and rail from most parts of the country, with very frequent local buses from the rail and coach stations to Headington. Express coach services from London, which serve request stops in Headington, are very cheap and likewise very frequent. A varied …

Orts 52, 1999, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Please note that, due to a newly scheduled visitation by the Bishop, the date of this conference has had to be changed to Saturday Sept. 18th 1999. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4.30pm. Planning will be helped if members and friends confirm as soon as possible that they hope to attend. Details of the programme are currently being finalised and will be sent out to everyone who expresses an interest. Please contact our Secretary, Deirdre Hayward at Cruister, SANDWICK, Shetlands, ZE2 9HN. Tel.01950 431587.

Orts 53, 1999, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

We have an impressive array of speakers for this event. Stratford Caldecott, Director of the Centre for Faith and Culture will introduce them all. Father Robert Wild will give the introductory talk on "Chesterton's Debt to George MacDonald." Our President, Stephen Prickett, Religious Professor of English at Glasgow University, will speak next, coming back early from his summer work at the A.N.U. in Canberra for this event. Professor David Jasper, head of the department of Literature and Theology at Glasgow University will be speaking on "The Paradox of a 'St Francis of Aberdeen." Dr Colin Manlove is the author of …

Orts 54, 1999, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The new MacDonald Society Christmas Card is now available. It is designed by William Webb and printed in red and black on fine-quality white card. The reduced—size, black and white illustration below does not do it justice. The cards are available from William Webb, whose address is in Orts 53, or from our Membership Secretary Vivienne Forrest at 30p each; £1.20 for five or £2.20 for 10. (add 20p. p&p for orders of under 5 cards). In N. America they are available from Emily Tobias at $2 for 5 or $7 for 20. The wording inside is "Christmas Greetings''. Vivienne's …

Orts 48, 1998, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

As last year, the 1998 A.G.M. of the Society will be held at St Stephen's Church, Westbourne Park Road, London W2. The date and time has been fixed as October 16th at 7 pm for 7.15. St Stephens is near the eastern end of Westbourne Park Road, a few hundred yards from Royal Oak Station, which is on the Hammersmith and City Line. Turn left out of the station and Westbourne Park Road is the second road on the right.

Orts 47, 1998, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The endeavour, mentioned in Orts 46, to supply members with an alternative MacDonald magazine until Tim Braithwaite is able to take up the reins did not succeed. It is essential that Orts should have an editor skilled in popular journalism who can stimulate contributions and create a lively magazine. Such people are not easy to find. Tim remains as keen as ever and should be returning before the year's end. Full approval has been given for the sort of developments he is planning.

Orts 46, 1998, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Adela workshops explore the penetrating spiritual/psychological insights of MacDonald's fairy tales and seek to discover how they can be put to direct practical use in everyday situations. Following the very successful workshop on Adela Cathcart held in Massachusetts in 1995 we hope to hold a similar workshop focusing on The Lost Princess (The Wise Woman) in New Hampshire or Maine in July 1998. Workshops actively involve all participants, there are no lectures. The Lost Princess is particularly suited for such an approach. MacDonald has written the story in such a way that it is impossible for readers not to imagine …

Orts 49, 1998, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

David Robb has been able to make contact with the editorial board responsible for bringing out the 1998 North Wind and has been informed that it should be published early in 1999. We are sorry for the delay.

Orts 44, 1997, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held at St Stephen's Church, Westbourne Park Road, London W2 on Friday October 31st at 7.15pm. for 7.30. St Stephen's is near the eastern end of Westbourne Park Road, a few hundred yards from Royal Oak Stn., which is on the Hammersmith and City Line. Turn left out of the station and Westbourne Park Road is the second turning on the right.

Orts 45, 1997, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Various unexpected events have delayed the final planning of this Conference. As a consequence it has not yet been possible to circulate full details. However the Conference is still planned to take place at Westminster College, Oxford from June 26th-28th.

Orts 42, 1997, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The extent to which email and the internet, in the past year, have supplanted the traditional forms of communication at a distance, is almost beyond belief. Few of us had realised how our specialist interests can blossom when a form of world-wide communication becomes available which reproduces the situation in a neighbourhood special-interest club, where members communicate informally with one another several times a week. The MacDonald Society's web site has not yet started to flourish, but that is only because J. J. Flynn who manages it, has been seriously ill. We wish him a speedy recovery. There is, however …

Orts 43, 1997, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

We have attempted to catch up on our publishing schedules. This issue is only one month late and number 44 should be on time. The brief period since Orts 42 however has meant that we have received few contributions, and the issue lacks the 'lighter' material necessary to balance two serious reviews. Please be sure to send us any material you have for the next issue.

Orts 38,1996, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Robin Brooks's play Fav'rite Nation which ran at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London, from the 3rd to the 20th of January is about the relationships between George MacDonald, John Ruskin, Octavia Hill—and Mrs la Touche and her unfortunate daughter Rose. MacDonald tried to assist when Ruskin developed a hopeless passion for Rose—the story is told in the 1924 biography of MacDonald and later in William Raeper's. Octavia Hill's work for the National Trust and other good causes is even better known. One of our members comments that the play was competently acted and rivetting throughout, bringing out well the conflict …

Orts 40, 1996, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Annual General Meeting of the George MacDonald Society will be held on Friday 27 September 1996, at Freda Levson's flat, 58A Westbourne Park Villas, London 'W2 5EB, at 6.30 for 7 pm. Deirdre Hayward, who is currently exploring the background of MacDonald's religious and philosophic thought, will give a talk to members. There will also be a short tribute to the late Raphael Shaberman, and it is hoped members of the Lewis Carroll Society will join us on account of his long and close connection with Carroll studies.

Orts 39, 1996, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The Society planned a rather unusual meeting for 26 March this year, designed for mainly social purposes and without business discussion, or any specific lecture topic. It was hoped to attract some members who were not generally able to get to meetings, to hear something of what MacDonald meant to a number of people, in an informal atmosphere, at Freda Levson's flat.

Orts 41, 1996, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

Our annual general meeting on 27 September provided an interesting contrast. Once the business had been dealt with, the spotlight was on one of our founder members, whose recent sudden loss was a shock to all. Phil Streeter's short talk on his friend and fellow-member Raphael Shaberman was not however a mournful obituary but a skillful portrait of a writer, scholar and artist who would probably have much disliked any public description of his personality. Raphael was perhaps best known for his work on the bibliography of George MacDonald; he was equally well informed on Lewis Carroll . He was …

Orts 36,1995, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The new owners of 'The Farm', Huntly—MacDonald's childhood home—are the Johannesens from California as announced in the last issue of 'Orts'. Andy and Debbie are settling happily into life in a small town in northern Scotland, according to reports and their own correspondence. They welcome visitors and overnight guests as far as the fairly limited accommodation allows, and can supply a leaflet giving their charges. Running the place as a guest-house is not of course their main aim! From a letter written in June we learn: "Every transaction has gone smoothly. Our great and glorious Lord has seen that we …

Orts 35, 1995, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

An almost forgotten trace of the MacDonald family is still visible in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A. This is a weatherworn stone plinth, part of a memorial to Louise, the wife of George MacDonald's son Ronald, in Riverside Cemtery. Ronald had become headmaster of a local episcopal school in Asheville; Louise was taken ill soon after they arrived in America and died not long after. Lilia MacDonald came over in 1890 to act as her brother's housekeeper.

The subject has been investigated by Dale Slusser who lives in Asheville and hopes to have a plaque put on the plinth which still …

Orts 37, 1995, The George Macdonald Society

Orts: The George MacDonald Society Newsletter

The 1995 A.G.M. was held on 13 October, this time in Freda Levson's ever-hospitable flat in West London. John Docherty, Secretary for many years, has now resigned. The members are deeply grateful for his tireless hard work over these years, when he played a vital part in the Society's development, not least in keeping people in contact with our work in this country and overseas. On this occasion one visitor from outside England was present, J. J. Flynn from California, one of the American publishers of MacDonald reprints. Our distinguished poet-member, John HeathStubbs, attended also.