At the Back of the North Wind

Name: At the Back of the North Wind
Author: George MacDonald

The story follows a young boy named Diamond who befriends the North Wind and embarks on a series of adventures that teach him about life, death, and the power of love. Along the way, he encounters various characters including a kind old man, a cruel landlord, and a group of children who are being mistreated by their caretakers. Through his experiences, Diamond learns valuable lessons about compassion, forgiveness, and the importance of helping others. The book is considered a classic work of fantasy literature and has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and timeless themes.

By George MacDonald · First published 1871 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Allegory · 38 chapters · 110,616 words

First lines

I HAVE been asked to tell you about the back of the north wind. An old Greek writer mentions a people who lived there, and were so comfortable that they could not bear it any longer, and drowned themselves. My story is not the same as his. I do not think Herodotus had got the right account of the place. I am going to tell you how it fared with a boy who went there.

What this Textopian page supports

At the Back of the North Wind is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1871 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: George MacDonald
Date: 1871 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Allegory, Adventure, Christian Fiction
Length: 110,616 words
Structure: 38 chapters, 2,500 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering At the Back of the North Wind?
How does this novel by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The book features fantastical elements, including a magical journey with the North Wind.
Children's Literature — The narrative is primarily aimed at a young audience, with themes suitable for children.
Allegory — The story contains allegorical elements, exploring themes of life, death, and morality.
Adventure — The plot involves adventurous journeys and experiences beyond the ordinary world.