The Portent: A Story Of The Inner Vision Of The Highlanders, Commonly Called The Second Sight (Digital Original) (The Cullen Collection #3)

By: George MacDonald

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Synopsis: A gothic ghost story of romance, adventure, and the supernatural from the acclaimed 19th-century author of Phantastes. The Portent was originally written for magazine serialization several years prior to its release in book form in 1864. Shorter than most of MacDonald&’s novels, this spooky tale of the Scottish &“second sight&” is a thorough spine-tingling ghost story worthy of the twilight zone. MacDonald&’s love of mysterious old castles and libraries plays a significant role in the story and is found in many of his books. In The Portent, first person narrator Duncan Campbell is engaged as tutor in a large mansion. There he falls under the spell of somnambulist Lady Alice, who is trapped between the worlds of wakefulness and sleep. About this title, MacDonald&’s son Greville commented: &“The story is different from almost any other of his books. It is weird, yet strangely convincing, and has no touch of the didactic.&” Because of its mystical flavor, The Portent is often linked with MacDonald&’s earlier Phantastes. Though the books are completely different, The Portent yet contains elements that appeal to readers of MacDonald&’s fantasy writings, and thus spans the genres of both fantasy and realistic fiction.