Citation: George MacDonald, Within and Without: A Dramatic Poem (London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans, 1855).

Bulloch (1925):

Within and Without: A Dramatic Poem. By George MacDonald. (Motto from Sidney’s “ Arcadia “.) London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans (May 18), 1855.

8vo, pp. iv + 183 + (3).

Dedicated, May 1855, in a sonnet “to L P. M. D.,” that is his wife Louisa Powell MacDonald, for whom was also written the fine wedding poem, beginning “Love me, beloved” (part iv., scene i.), read by Julian though, as Dr. Greville MacDonald, it was with “real heartbreak” that the bride consented to its publication in the book.

This autobiographical poem was MacDonald’s first published work. According to the “Poetical works” (1893, i., 1), it was written in Dec., 1850-Jan., 1851 when he was living at Arundel, although Ronald MacDonald says (“From a northern window,” p. 60) that it was written in the “late forties” of last century. It found difficulty in getting a publisher. In March, 1854, it was in the hands of an Edinburgh publisher, who was strongly urged to publish it by a sister of Sydney Smith, into whose hands he had put it for her opinion (Greville MacDonald’s “George MacDonald,” p. 209). The Macmillans turned it down (ibid., p. 221). Finally Longmans did it, paying according to the Times (Sept. 19, 1905) £20 for it.

Dr. Greville MacDonald devotes a whole chapter to it (pp. 220-227) in his life of his father, and there is a detailed analysis of it in (pp. 87-112) Joseph Johnson’s “George MacDonald” (1906).

The reviews were so enthusiastic that the Longmans decided to advertise it largely with extracts from the press. “Shirley” was enthusiastic in Fraser’s Magazine (Aug. 1856: liv., 235-237). The Scotsman called it a “very remarkable production of intellect.” The British Quarterly Review (xlvii., 32) thought it should have been called “Count Julian”. The Globe was enthusiastic (printing
the wedding poem): the Leader was “insulting.” The Athenaeum (July 7, 1855: p. 783) found “the whole inexpressibly painful… and there is a want of comprehension”. The longest review appeared in the Monthly Christian Spectator (Aug., 1855: v., 503-508), to which MacDonald was a contributor.

  • 1871. Reprinted in (vol. i.) “ Works of fancy and. imagination,” which was reissued in 1876 and 1884.
  • 1872. Published by Scribner, Armstrong & Co., New York: 12mo, pp. 219 (New York Pub. Lib.). From an enthusiastic review in Scribner’s Monthly (May, 1872: iv., 109-112) it appears that Scribner’s advertised it as a “ thrilling story in verse. ”
  • 1893. Reprinted in (i., 1-131) “ The Poetical works ” reissued on thin paper, 1911.

These publication pages are a collaborative effort of members of The George MacDonald Society. We welcome comments on the individual publication pages to help improve the scope, accuracy, and utility of the descriptions.