George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin is a Victorian fairy tale about an eight-year-old princess, Irene, and her adventures with a young miner named Curdie. The story takes place in a magical mountain kingdom where goblins, banished years ago, plot against the royal family. Irene discovers a secret passageway in her room that leads to her great-great-grandmother's spirit, who helps guide Irene and Curdie.