The Princess and the Goblin

In the Princess and the Goblin, Irene is a pretty princess, but her childhood is boringly uneventful. Infrequent visits from her father the king, who spends most of his time tending to business, are her only excitement. Unknown to the court, a band of goblins is digging a tunnel beneath the palace, and one night three grotesque creatures break into Irene's room—the vicious Goblin Queen who breaks enemies' bones with her granite shoes, the meek Goblin King who hides behind his wife when things are unpleasant and their ugly, stupid young son, Harley. The Goblins live in the caves and mines of the Great Mountain, banished there by the Sun People generations ago. To get revenge on their enemies, the Goblins have vowed to kidnap Princess Irene—and Harley plans to marry her. Among those who try to help Irene are Curdie, the young son of a miner, and Irene's great-great-grandmother—who died many years ago.