At a recent homeschooling convention I picked up several of George MacDonald’s books from a used bookseller. The Baron’s Apprenticeship (originally titled There and Back in 1891) is a companion volume to The Curate’s Awakening and The Lady’s Confession (although each book is complete in itself), and while they are both very good books, it was The Baron’s Apprenticeship, which really held my interest.

   17-year-old Richard Tuke is the son of a bookbinder in London, England. Apprenticed in the trade himself, Richard is quickly on his way to becoming one of the most skillful bookbinders around - attracting the attention of prominent citizens. With the company of such old and renown works of writing, Richard is remarkably intelligent and a man everyone would be proud to know.

   Invited for a few weeks visit to his Grandfather’s place - a blacksmith with a strong faith in God - Richard also discovers a liking and talent in blacksmithing. Not believing in God due to conflicting influences from his parents - his father an atheist and his mother a believer in a falsely presented aspect of God - Richard finds his Grandfather’s faith a little different, with maybe just a hint of something in it. One day a young lady and her friends stop at the blacksmith’s shop for a new shoe for her horse: the lady, Barbara Wylder, intrigues Richard with her outgoing, equal friendliness to all and her interest in everything.

   The following day his Grandfather takes Richard to visit the local baron’s home of Mortgrange, and while there they are shown into the immense, but decaying, library for which Richard shows a great passion to the baron’s son and heir Arthur Lestrange. After a short discussion on the restoration of old books Richard finds that working for the Lestranges would be task to his liking, and returns home with a stronger desire to learn more about the repair of old books on the inside as well as on the outside.

   While at home he goes to visit two friends of his, a poor brother and sister, only to find them gone. During a book delivery shortly after he has a mysterious encounter with the sister in which she tells him his mother forbade her to see him anymore. After questioning his mother he finds himself no closer to any relevant reasoning for her actions.

   The next spring Richard heads back to Mortgrange to work on restoring the grand library and finds a friend in Barbara Wylder, who spends a lot of her time at the estate. Arthur wishes to woo Barbara, but her only interest in him is friendship.

   Much of Richard and Barbara’s time together is spent in discussing literature, poetry, nature, and religion. Barbara holds that there is a "Presence" she feels a need for, a need for a deeper meaning to life. Richard explains his religious beliefs as non-existent, but Barbara’s statements and questions strike a chord in him as well. One day as Barbara holds a dying pigeon in her hand and helplessly watches as it draws its last breath she cries, "There must be more!"

   Barbara sets out on a mission of discovery: Is there a God? She turns to Mr. Wingfold (the curate whose awakening this series revolves around) and his wife for enlightenment and begins a spiritual awakening which influences Richard’s own reevaluation of the existence of God.

"Tell me honestly, are you sure there is no God?" she questions.

   Along with a story of dawning faith this story is also about Richard’s true identity. Is he really the son of a bookbinder, or could he be the baron’s long-lost son, stolen in infancy and the true heir? And how does the friends he’s forbidden to associate with fit in? Will he and Barbara find their faith?

   A truly intriguing tale intertwined with a thread of spiritual awareness and discovery by a talented Christian author makes The Baron’s Apprenticeship a worthwhile read!