Book Reviews

his essay collection is based on papers delivered at the Baylor University conference in Waco, Texas, celebrating the centennial of MacDonald’s death in 2005. Their variety of approach and subject matter offer something to all MacDonald aficionados. The first five papers deal with influences on MacDonald’s writing, the second six examine the works themselves, the next two compare MacDonald’s work with that of some subsequent authors, and the final paper looks at how MacDonald is perceived by different audiences today. To more fully inform North Wind readers about the contents of this provocative and interesting volume, I’ve attempted to summarize the major line of thought of each essay below. While some, to my thinking, could have benefitted from a more assertive editorial shaping and/or copy editing, without exception the essays are original and well-argued. The reader’s own critical predilections and interests will determine the ones he or she finds most convincing and significant.