Lilith

"Lilith is equal if not superior to the best of Poe," raved poet W. H. Auden about this classic Victorian novel. Known as the father of fantasy literature, George MacDonald was a Scottish minister who later turned to writing poetry and novels, gaining acclaim for his children's books and influencing J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Lilith is considered to be one of the most important visionary novels of the nineteenth century.
Written in 1895, Lilith is a fantasy novel for adults that's rich with symbolism and suspense. A recent heir to his parents' English country manor, Mr. Vane has been troubled by visions of an elderly gentleman in his library. Curious, he follows the old man through a passageway and discovers a dusty mirror that leads him on a spiritual journey into another world. As he travels through time in scenes that range from the beautiful to the grotesque, he encounters a series of mysteries that reveal a deeper reality. Is Vane dreaming . . . or going mad? With classic themes of good and evil, identity and free will, suffering and salvation, Lilith is a thought-provoking, sometimes puzzling, allegory that will challenge your intellect and stay with you long after the last page is turned.