One of George MacDonald's most famous novel's, published in 1871, was first 
serialized in a children's magazine Good Words for the Young. Given its episodic construction, it is not hard to imagine children eagerly awaiting the next installment of the story of little Diamond. To a modern day reader, Diamond seems so sweet and good that he is almost unreal. He takes care of is baby brother. He befriends anyone who will talk to him, from the street sweeper, Nanny, to his drunken next door neighbor. When his father is ill, he takes the cab out in order to make money for the family. Everywhere Diamond goes he spreads joy to the people around him and possesses such an innocent demeanor that even those close to him begin to think he must be mentally ill. Diamond is set apart by his behavior toward others and complete joy in his circumstances. He was not meant for this world. It is because he is created in such a manner that North Wind comes to him and begins what will be a series of journeys leading to the country at her back. His adventures with North Wind begin as just a picture of that land. Diamond does not truly arrive there until the end of the book and when he does, it is more real and even more lovely than his dreams.
serialized in a children's magazine Good Words for the Young. Given its episodic construction, it is not hard to imagine children eagerly awaiting the next installment of the story of little Diamond. To a modern day reader, Diamond seems so sweet and good that he is almost unreal. He takes care of is baby brother. He befriends anyone who will talk to him, from the street sweeper, Nanny, to his drunken next door neighbor. When his father is ill, he takes the cab out in order to make money for the family. Everywhere Diamond goes he spreads joy to the people around him and possesses such an innocent demeanor that even those close to him begin to think he must be mentally ill. Diamond is set apart by his behavior toward others and complete joy in his circumstances. He was not meant for this world. It is because he is created in such a manner that North Wind comes to him and begins what will be a series of journeys leading to the country at her back. His adventures with North Wind begin as just a picture of that land. Diamond does not truly arrive there until the end of the book and when he does, it is more real and even more lovely than his dreams.The most difficult thing Diamond must learn about North Wind is that she is always good. Even when she must destroy something or someone, she is still good. He struggles to justify the goodness she has shown him with what he sees as "badness" she meets out on others. After many great disasters, the christian's mind struggles to conprehend a God who is truly good and yet allows and even causes what we see as "bad" things to occur. As Diamond travels with North Wind he realizes that no matter what she does, he knows her to be good and can rest in that thought.
While it is one of my favorite stories, it must be considered that At the Back of the North Wind was written in the 19th century. It is very stylized with long passages of poetry, sometimes 2-3 pages long, in the middle of a chapter. The novel even contains the fairy tale of Little Daylight which MacDonald later published separately. I don't think these divergences take away anything from the story, but rather are used to illustrate Diamond's otherworldly adventures with North Wind.
*This book was first published in 1871
*This book was first published in 1871
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