At the Back of the North Wind (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Christmas Specials SeriesBy George MacDonald
Length10h 16m
About this audiobook
At the Back of the North Wind is one of George MacDonald's most luminous fantasies, blending Victorian realism with spiritual allegory and fairy-tale wonder. Centered on the fragile yet imaginative child Diamond, the novel moves between the harsh material world of poverty, labor, and illness and the mysterious realm governed by the personified North Wind. Its prose is tender, symbolic, and philosophically searching, placing it within the nineteenth-century tradition of moral fantasy while anticipating later children's literature by writers such as C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. George MacDonald, Scottish minister, poet, novelist, and pioneering fantasist, brought to his fiction a deep theological imagination shaped by Christian universalism, Romanticism, and an intense concern for childhood innocence. His own experiences of poverty, bereavement, and religious controversy inform the novel's meditation on suffering, death, and divine love, transforming doctrine into narrative beauty rather than didactic instruction. This book is highly recommended for readers interested in classic fantasy, Victorian literature, or spiritually resonant children's fiction. It rewards both young readers and adults with its layered symbolism, emotional delicacy, and enduring vision of hope beyond fear.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreChildren's Literature
Length10 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 8, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1At the Back of the North Wind (Illustrated) (Annotated)
24CHAPTER XX. DIAMOND LEARNS TO READ
2Introduction
25CHAPTER XXI. SAL'S NANNY
3Synopsis
26CHAPTER XXII. MR. RAYMOND'S RIDDLE
4Historical Context
27CHAPTER XXIII. THE EARLY BIRD
5CHAPTER I. THE HAY-LOFT
28CHAPTER XXIV. ANOTHER EARLY BIRD
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER II. THE LAWN
29CHAPTER XXV. DIAMOND'S DREAM
7CHAPTER III. OLD DIAMOND
30CHAPTER XXVI. DIAMOND TAKES A FARE THE WRONG WAY RIGHT
8CHAPTER IV. NORTH WIND
31CHAPTER XXVII. THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
9CHAPTER V. THE SUMMER-HOUSE
32CHAPTER XXVIII. LITTLE DAYLIGHT
10CHAPTER VI. OUT IN THE STORM
33CHAPTER XXIX. RUBY
11CHAPTER VII. THE CATHEDRAL
34CHAPTER XXX. NANNY'S DREAM
12CHAPTER VIII. THE EAST WINDOW
35CHAPTER XXXI. THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW
13CHAPTER IX. HOW DIAMOND GOT TO THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
36CHAPTER XXXII. DIAMOND AND RUBY
14CHAPTER X. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
37CHAPTER XXXIII. THE PROSPECT BRIGHTENS
15CHAPTER XI. HOW DIAMOND GOT HOME AGAIN
38CHAPTER XXXIV. IN THE COUNTRY
16CHAPTER XII. WHO MET DIAMOND AT SANDWICH
39CHAPTER XXXV. I MAKE DIAMOND'S ACQUAINTANCE
17CHAPTER XIII. THE SEASIDE
40CHAPTER XXXVI. DIAMOND QUESTIONS NORTH WIND
18CHAPTER XIV. OLD DIAMOND
41CHAPTER XXXVII. ONCE MORE
19CHAPTER XV. THE MEWS
42CHAPTER XXXVIII. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
20CHAPTER XVI. DIAMOND MAKES A BEGINNING
43Analysis
21CHAPTER XVII. DIAMOND GOES ON
44Reflection
22CHAPTER XVIII. THE DRUNKEN CABMAN
45Memorable Quotes
23CHAPTER XIX. DIAMOND'S FRIENDS
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