The Day Boy and the Night Girl

The Romance of Photogen and Nycteris

By: George MacDonald

Narrated by: Daniel Koehn

Length: 1 hr and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

George MacDonald once declared, “I do not write for children, but for the childlike, whether of five, or 50, or 75.” The Day Boy and the Night Girl is a splendid example of such writing. With words of wonder, beauty, and adventure, and with acute spiritual insight and sensitivity, MacDonald spins an enchanting tale of two children, a boy and a girl, who grow up from infancy in the castle of a witch. Unaware of each other’s presence in the castle, the children are victims of an unnatural design upon them, in which the boy is never to know the night, and the girl is never to know the day. The boy is therefore scrupulously compelled to be indoors before sunset. And the girl is locked away in the dim, forlorn chambers carved in the rock beneath the castle. It is not until they reach adolescence that the two meet, quite unexpectedly, and quickly become aware that they must rely on one another if they are ever to escape the cruel and violent fury of the witch.

With an introduction by Michael Phillips.

©2019 Wise Path Books (introduction) (P)2019 Wise Path Books

Great fairytale

This story has everything that a great fairytale needs. A wicked witch that is taking advantage of two children. This is a fun little story that will sweep you up in its arms and take you for a magical ride.

A Fairy Tale

It's been so long since I've read a fairy tale and it was so nice to sit back and let myself just listen to this while the narrator guided me through the story.

Traditional stories, such as fairy tales, were handed down through oral tradition for many years. It makes sense, then, to appreciate them once again through an audiobook.

I have never heard of this particular story, nor the likes of it, before. It's sad what was done to the children, but it was also interesting, as a reader, to watch both the boy and the girl experience what was am entirely different world to what they had grown up knowing. And I really liked how it ended.

Good story in older style language

Maybe you already know this story and are considering getting it on audible - I thought the narrator did a great job.
IF you’ve not read this story before, it was an enjoyable story full of lyrical language and symbolism. For me, I don’t particularly love listening to language from a long time ago. It’s a bit hard for me to follow. But aside from that it was a really cool story that has left me thinking

Fascinating and deeply thoughtful

I had never heard this fairytale before and was delighted to get the chance to hear it narrated. The production was excellent with a wonderful score between chapters that enhanced the experience. The narrator did a wonderful job of alternating his voice for each character. Our hero, Photogen and our heroine Nycteris. The description is rich and beautiful, there is subtle underlying meaning to each sentence and while it tells a simple story about the girl who never sees day and the boy who never sees night, and how together they are better, there is subtext to teach us all. Absolutely enchanting experience.

Takes me back to my childhood.

I loved the story and cadence as the narrator told George MacDonald's tale. It was a throw back to fantasy books from when I was younger. I think that you and your children will enjoy this fairy tale, and I hope that there are many more stories to come. While not long in length, the story is lovely.