George MacDonald 
At the Back of the North Wind 

“At the Back of the North Wind” is a classic children’s story first serialized in England in 1868 and published into a book in 1871 by the Scottish author George Mac Donald. This enchanting fairy tale follows Diamond, a sweet, innocent, and joyful young stable boy in Victorian London who goes on adventures with the majestic North Wind. The North Wind is personified as a lovely and mysterious woman, both severe and kind, who teaches young Diamond about herself on their journeys. The perceptive Diamond is caught up by this powerful entity on her nightly adventures, and the kind child acts as the perfect character for the author to highlight social injustice, explore the place of death in the lives of human beings, and acknowledge the deep need all humans have for love and forgiveness. While the North Wind sometimes brings death and destruction to the human world, good things always follow and balance is brought to the world. Engaging and filled with exciting adventures, “At the Back of the North Wind” tackles difficult and complicated issues in a language accessible to all ages. Mac Donald poignantly addresses questions and fears that all humankind must face in this beautiful and insightful landmark of children’s literature. This edition includes a biographical afterword.