At the Back of the North Wind

This novel is an intriguing mix of drama and fantasy. Ostensibly written for children, MacDonald touches on challenging questions about God's goodness and the necessity of work. I reflected on these ideas long after I had finished the book. Throughout the book, MacDonald relates poems, dreams, fairy tales, and at times nonsense verse. The novel often shifts between the life of a poor family in London and these fantasy elements. We are often unsure if we are following the hero, Diamond, through a supernatural encounter or through a dream.MacDonald's narrator points the reader toward deeper, often Biblical truths. North Wind is under some authority, and she wholly trusts this Person, even though she does not always understand her orders. We infer that North Wind is obeying God, and we are led toward faith that God's decisions are for our good (even when we don't know everything God had in mind).Note: The Kindle edition from 2012 was missing a number of verses in the book, eg chapters 10, 20, 22. I deleted the book and again downloaded it in 7/2013; and now the missing verses are in place.

This tale of a little boy named Diamond who meets the North Wind is layered enough to satisfy adult readers with spiritual sensitivity. The main surprise for me was MacDonald's description of a nurturing, feminine Holy Spirit with a ferocious no-nonsense side. In front of the North Wind and at the back of the North Wind are contrasting experiences that will be familiar to all Christians who have lived long enough to know the ups and downs of circumstance. Also, the community-enhancing moral elements of the story will be refreshing to readers who are tired of our relativistic self-absorbed world.I didn't understand the purpose of the interpolated fairy tale in the second half of the book, since it did not seem to add to the message or impact of the story as a whole. But I found Diamond's life coherent and engaging. Of all MacDonald's stories, this one is most explicitly Christian and inspirational. I'm now on my third read-through.

A charming and touching childrens novel that I didn’t discover until age 52, it was written in England by a former Congregationalist minister in the time of Queen Victoria . It is the story of a frail, impoverished child and his family facing difficult circumstances in Dickensian London. While on the surface it seems a simple story, it is a stylistically sophisticated mix of realism and surrealism with interposed extended dream passages, original fairy tales, and mantric nursery rhymes. Its clear purpose is in moral and religious education, written to affirm both the existence and goodness of God and the essential goodness of His creation. Never facile or preachy, the author confronts the presence of evil and adversity, and shows considerable psychological insight in the treatment of his characters.I suspect that it would be difficult for today’s elementary students to read and understand the work without assistance because of its style and the alienness of its world. Older, more worldly and pseudo sophisticated middle schoolers may find it naïve or jejune. However I would encourage it for the special child and adults who still have some sense of wonder left in themselves.This particular edition is handsome and an excellent value. The novel’s otherworldly magic is enhanced by the many original illustrations by preraphaelite artist, Arthur Hughes. I will be giving a copy to a right person this Christmas.

At The Back of the North Wind. What can I saw about this wonderful story written by George MacDonald accept that it is one of the magical ones, that is if you were lucky enough to have it read to you as a child by some one who loved you very much. It is one of those stories that make you believe that magic really does still exist if you are humble and not selfish, if you help others and strive to be the person that you were born to be, the kind of person who behaves exactly the same way whether others are watching, or not. Yes, it is a children's story, however, I haven't met many adults who couldn't stand to learn a few things from the lessons our dear main character Diamond is learning. If you enjoy fantasy books, this is a rich example of one of the best.

I love George MacDonald's writing and his ability to address Biblical, spiritual themes through stories. This story's audience is, presumably, children, as well as the parents who would be reading the story to them. Through it, MacDonald attempts to answer the big WHY of life; why a good God can let bad things happen, and what might be awaiting us when we leave this physical world. He suggests, through his story, that people can choose how to respond to bad circumstances (a timely message for his young audience). The story is written such that a child under the age of eleven could probably read it easily, which contrasts with many of MacDonald's stories. This one would be among his stories set in England, which may account for its readability. (Others were set in Scotland, employing Scottish vocabulary, and portray a much more rustic culture...they are tricky to read unless you have a good edition, such as one by Michael Phillips.)The story is a very good one, but I gave it only three stars for a couple of reasons that other readers might not find so off-putting. I didn't like the stories within the main story (songs, dreams, fairy tales). My kids liked those, however. I prefer MacDonald's Scottish stories better. I might have liked the book better if I had read it to my twelve-year-olds a year or two ago.

Another exquisite tapestry of a fairy tale by the renowned 19th century Scottish minister and theologian, George MacDonald, who, according to his biography, lost several of his own children to early death, due to the appalling childhood mortality which was just a fact of existence during MacDonald's lifetime. This highly intelligent and educated author's child-like, unquestioning faith in a traditional Christian God, despite his own many losses and suffering, resulted in a faith in a God, who, though mysterious in His ways, nevertheless, must have a purpose for His often times ill-seeming behavior and eventually (in Heaven?) reveal a deep meaning, behind the superfiicial appearance of tragedy, illness, sickness, lack of fairness, etc., for the down-trodden and afflicted members of humankind, as well as for animals and all sentient beings, e.g, elves in cottages and fairies who dwell among the petals of roses. MacDonald portrays the powerful, yet apparently whimsical or sometimes even nonsensical behavior of the mysterious, omniscient God in whom he believes through the character, North Wind, who must do her work, because it "feels" right to her, despite the violence and tragedy she sometimes wreaks. such as, for example, her "work" is to sink a ship, in which scene, where she grows from a lovely lady to a giantress, she sets the innocent little Curdie, who has "come along for the ride" with her, as it were, down from where he is hiding amid the wild, wavy tresses of her hair, as she flies through the air, so that Curdie will be spared hearing the cries and screams of the drowning passengers of the ship. Believe it or not, MacDonald manages to pull off this literary feat in a way that is not only entertaining,, but downright humorous, in the course of the "argument" between Curdie and the North Wind as to the wisdom of this gratuitous act of violence..

Everyone should read this at least once in their life.What starts out seemingly as a childrens’ fairy tale slowly becomes so much more. George MacDonald weaves a dreamy story as only he could do. Is the plot tight as a drum? No, but the thing was written in 1869. The old-timey British prose is also outdated.But a patient reader who takes their time will dig up many buried treasures to be cherished for a long time.

"At the Back of the North Wind" is a book I nearly gave up on, but I'm glad I pushed through and finished the story. I think it helps if you understand this is a christian fairy tale published in 1871, and you determine what the North Wind represents. One reason I chose to forge on is because C.S. Lewis highly regarded George MacDonald, and this work supposedly influenced Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series.The main narrative follows the life of a young boy named Diamond and his family as they experience, misery, poverty, joy, and good fortune. The story also includes a super natural element where the North Wind appears to be a beautiful lady that speaks to Diamond teaching him things about her nature and purpose and ushering him to the land that lies at the back of the north wind.Two days after finishing the book, I'm still reflecting on the meaning and the indirect lessons the author wove into the narrative. I really enjoyed the simple nature of the story, the good-natured Diamond, and the overall moral about not fearing the North Wind if you are a good person. I felt the author got his point across in a way that wasn't overly preachy, and I think this would be a good story for families to read together.

Allen Freunden von C.S.Lewis, Tolkien oder Lewis Carrols Alice im Wunderland sei dieses Buch empfohlen. Ein Märchen für Erwachsene mit kindlichem Gemüt. Ein Märchen mit Tiefgang.Unbedingt lesen.

I so loved the inner knowings discovered here ... the back of the North Wind being a true gift of inner light Ans connection. Thank you

I am a really big fan of reading - I spend far too much time reading anything from Wikipedia articles on whole countries to fanfiction about my favourite anime. However, I can honestly say that this book is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. I only came across it when it was in a list of books my English teacher gave me to choose from and then write about, but the moment I read the title I could tell it was going to be an utterly charming read. The characters are endearing, the concept is heartbreakingly perfect and if you don't fall in love with both Old and Young Diamond a few pages in you are definitely, as Nanny so eloquently puts it, a tile loose. It will make you want to smile at the sun, sing to the moon, dance in the stars and at times even cry - there are few stories that are written so well they can put you at the back of the north wind, but this is one of them. By far my favourite children's book of all time, I would recommend this to anyone willing to listen. From the first day you can understand words to the age of a thousand and three, anyone can read this and I guarantee everyone will adore it as much as I do.

A beautiful old story... so much depth and wonder in it. Well written and unusual, George MacDonald is an adept story teller who weaves intricate, theological themes throughout the book, tantalizing you into trying to figure out what he is saying while, at the same time, enjoying the story thoroughly. Well worth the read!

Our family loves this story. We have it on cassette and have listened to it numerous times.