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
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (15.7K)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, StoryGraph
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)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5CHAPTER I. THE HAY-LOFT
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER II. THE LAWN
7CHAPTER III. OLD DIAMOND
8CHAPTER IV. NORTH WIND
9CHAPTER V. THE SUMMER-HOUSE
10CHAPTER VI. OUT IN THE STORM
11CHAPTER VII. THE CATHEDRAL
12CHAPTER VIII. THE EAST WINDOW
13CHAPTER IX. HOW DIAMOND GOT TO THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
14CHAPTER X. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
15CHAPTER XI. HOW DIAMOND GOT HOME AGAIN
16CHAPTER XII. WHO MET DIAMOND AT SANDWICH
17CHAPTER XIII. THE SEASIDE
18CHAPTER XIV. OLD DIAMOND
19CHAPTER XV. THE MEWS
20CHAPTER XVI. DIAMOND MAKES A BEGINNING
21CHAPTER XVII. DIAMOND GOES ON
22CHAPTER XVIII. THE DRUNKEN CABMAN
23CHAPTER XIX. DIAMOND'S FRIENDS
24CHAPTER XX. DIAMOND LEARNS TO READ
25CHAPTER XXI. SAL'S NANNY
26CHAPTER XXII. MR. RAYMOND'S RIDDLE
27CHAPTER XXIII. THE EARLY BIRD
28CHAPTER XXIV. ANOTHER EARLY BIRD
29CHAPTER XXV. DIAMOND'S DREAM
30CHAPTER XXVI. DIAMOND TAKES A FARE THE WRONG WAY RIGHT
31CHAPTER XXVII. THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
32CHAPTER XXVIII. LITTLE DAYLIGHT
33CHAPTER XXIX. RUBY
34CHAPTER XXX. NANNY'S DREAM
35CHAPTER XXXI. THE NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW
36CHAPTER XXXII. DIAMOND AND RUBY
37CHAPTER XXXIII. THE PROSPECT BRIGHTENS
38CHAPTER XXXIV. IN THE COUNTRY
39CHAPTER XXXV. I MAKE DIAMOND'S ACQUAINTANCE
40CHAPTER XXXVI. DIAMOND QUESTIONS NORTH WIND
41CHAPTER XXXVII. ONCE MORE
42CHAPTER XXXVIII. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND
43Analysis
44Reflection
45Memorable Quotes
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