At the Back of the North Wind (Everyman's Library Children's Classics Series) Hardcover – Illustrated, October 16, 2001

George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a Scottish author, poet and preacher; a mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll, and some of his works of fantasy have become classics in the genre, and inspired other authors, like C.S. Lewis. At the Back of the North Wind was first serialized in the children's magazine Good Words for the Young in 1868, and published in book form in 1871.At the centre of the story is a small boy named Diamond, son of a poor coachman – who also has a horse with the same name. The boy Diamond sleeps in the loft over the stable (right over the stall of Diamond the horse); and in the wall by his bed there is a knothole, through which the North Wind blows. In Diamond’s dreams (or is it more than just dreams?), the North Wind takes the shape of a beautiful woman with long hair – sometimes small like a fairy, sometimes huge and awe-inspiring like a mighty storm – sweeping Diamond away on nightly adventures, both in his own town and to a distant land, “at the back of the north wind”.Diamond is at the same time a mystery and a joy to the people around him. Kind and helpful and trusting, and making friends whereever he goes - but also going his own ways, showing both practical initiative, and surprising people by fanciful ideas, rhymes and dreams. He’s naive in some ways, and yet also wise and philosphical far beyond his age. Some think he’s not quite right in his head; but he never takes offense.It is not a book easy to categorize. Take the basic setting (including poor little boy) from a novel by Charles Dickens; put it down a rabbit hole (as in Alice in Wonderland - 1865); add a good portion of classic fairy tale and fable; mix in some serious theodicy questions and answers; and serve with a sprinkle of nursery rhymes on top. It’s very much up to the reader’s taste to decide what to make of it!I read it the first time about 25 years ago in Swedish translation, and reread it now because I found had forgotten most of it, and also wanted to read it in the original language. The story also makes a lot of deviations like long nursery rhymes and whole fairy tales told within the story. Some of the details deserve more attention than one might think at first, as there are plenty of parallells between the ‘reality’ vs. stories and dreams within the book (much like the roots of our dreams can often be found in our daytime life).It’s not a book I’d recommend as a must-read for everyone. My guess is that some will stll love it while other modern readers may find it strange and too old-fashioned in style. But if you are interested in classic children’s literature and fantasy, I think you will probably recognise themes and ideas also used by many other authors within those genres.

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..

"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.

I was a little confused at first...until I figured out that there were two Diamonds, Diamond the horse and Diamond the boy. After I got that cleared up, the story was great. George Macdonald writes so that I feel that I am there sharing all the adventures with Diamond and going along with him on his windy rides. The writer portrayed many different types of people: rich, poor, drunken, mothers, fathers, neighbors...I was thinking about going back and taking some quotes. I guess when you want to to that then the story is good. I give it a four because it was a bit confusing at times and there were a lot of poems that I felt when on and on.

This review is from: At the Back of the North Wind (Kindle Edition)I had a vague recollection of reading this book many many years ago when I was a child. George MacDonald was/is of course the father of fantasy, having influenced Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and probably George R.R. Martin as well. When I put this on my kindle. I had some vague notion of reading it to my grandchildren, but I've finished it and now I don't think so.Where do I start? The story is of an odd, saintly child who encounters the North Wind AKA Death, very early on. Or does he?The story follows on with descriptions of Victorian poverty, hardship, dancing babies and many other things. It is liberally interspersed with songs and poetry a la Tolkien which can be tiresome, depending on your point of view. There is a very strong Christian influence; The little hero, Diamond, is Christ like.I can't honestly say whether I liked it or not. It is a strange tale and one which is not so easily understood in this day and age. I must admit to shedding a tear at the end and I am not one to cry over a book but I do not think I would read it to a modern child as it is more of a Victorian curiosity. I have to say that most children would prefer Harry Potter. If you have read Victorian children's books, particularly Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies, you will know what I mean. It has none of the verve of E. Nesbit for instance, although she wrote at a slightly later time.Still worth a read.

This is a book like few I have read. It begins gently, drawing the reader into its pages with a soft breeze; but between these covers are hard truths, grim reality, and tragedy. Yet it is also a book full of simple beauty, of joy and of love. Read it slowly - don’t rush, and let its words blow through your soul.It tells the story of a young boy’s journeying with the North Wind, a wild, beautiful woman that visits him in his room above the stables where his father’s horse, old Diamond, is kept. He sees ships on the ocean, rivers flowing to the sea, and the busy streets and dark alleys of London.

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.

Love a good children's book (-Narnia stories, Alice in Wonderland etc)? Read this then! A young boy goes on amazing adventures with a mysterious character who appears to him in various guises. He ends up at 'the back of the North Wind', an experience which has a profound effect on him and through him to his family and everyone about him. As usual, George McD isn't afraid to face up to grim experiences but this is a wonderfully hopeful book. Give yourself a treat and read it, especially since there's a free Kindle version on Amazon!

Another book remembered from childhood but only fully appreciated on re reading as an adult. Dark themes handled with charming delicacy. Like the author of The Water Babies, George MacDonald had a serious social reform message in his writing but kept it so well balanced that it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story.