
A young princess named Irene grows up far from the lofty palace where she was born, living in a modest house that clings to a mountainside. Her world is filled with the soft glow of a star‑studded ceiling and the quiet wonder of a landscape that seems both familiar and mysterious. Though she is only eight, Irene’s keen eyes already scan the horizon for the secrets hidden beyond her garden walls.
Beneath those same mountains lie winding caverns, home to a strange race of goblins—creatures once thought to have walked in the light but now twisted by darkness and old grudges. Their cleverness fuels a constant stream of mischief, and the miners who venture into the depths speak of eerie lights and unsettling noises. When a brave, humble miner named Curdie crosses paths with Irene, their friendship sparks a curiosity about the goblins’ hidden plans.
Together they begin to uncover the subtle threats emerging from the underground, setting the stage for a daring adventure that will test Irene’s courage and the strength of her newfound alliance.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (272K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jo Churcher. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
1996-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1824–1905
A Scottish writer, poet, and preacher, he helped shape modern fantasy long before the genre had a name. His stories of wonder and spiritual searching went on to influence writers including C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
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