Wow. This is evidently something I need to prioritize reading because I have been wrestling with the idea of such longing as of late. Thank you for sharing!!
I read this book a couple times as a kid, along with several others by Macdonald, and this year I read Phantastes which is even wilder plot-wise. While I tend to be an intellectual reader, I do think that appreciating MacDonald really comes down to assessing how you are *feeling*–a catharsis of kinds–rather than analyzing the plot.
Maddie that was a lovely and captivating way to share the highlights of this story! Oh my heart! I could really identify with this transcending longing too. I’m going to get the book. ❤️thx u!
Oh my word, this was so beautiful. At the Back of the North Wind went from "I want to read that someday" to "I must read that now." Thank you for writing about this story in a way that communicates its wonder.
I was also struck by how much of the book focuses on Diamond’s normal, daily life—and at times it almost felt as if I were reading two books; one was about his fantastical adventures, the other about how hard it is to live with hope and wonder in the midst of tangible, weighty poverty.
Diamond has this longing, to be sure, but he also learns to see what is beautiful right before him. In the mundane and even the ugly. And that “seeing” transforms him. He begins to make a difference in the lives around him, whether it’s for the girl sweeping the street or a baby that needs comforted.
There was also much about suffering—and the direct symbolism of “the north wind”—that I am still wrestling with. I almost feel like MacDonald was playing with the idea of why/how God allows suffering and what is OUR role in the midst of it all. Was this something you felt when reading as well?
Yes to all of this. I completely felt on a personal level that I could relate to the beauty of the mundane sort of “breaking in on you” that Diamond learned. And so much about suffering. I noticed it especially after he came back from the back of the north wind. He saw that all was somehow “good,” not in the sense of being blind to real evil and suffering, but he had such a beautiful conviction that in the end all would be revealed as good somehow.
Reading MacDonald is fairly consistently something like a spiritual peak experience for me. Just finished the golden key. I got Donal Grant coming soon!
I think about this longing all the time! And also, how real stories are--even if fictional. I almost think the word fictional is deceiving at this point in my own writing. I've asked so many times (not the wind but God) why did you give me these people? Are they real? The answer has always been a resounding yes. Maybe it's part of becoming like a child again. I don't know, but it makes my spirit soar. It's funny because I just posted a thing on Facebook about how as a child John Denver's music spoke to this longing. I think this is my favorite piece of your writing so far!
That's so beautiful, thank you for sharing! I know C.S. Lewis had a lot of thoughts on the real and the imaginary. I have only listened to some podcasts here and there about it, and haven't yet looked into his own writings on it, but I want to at some point. Chesterton is another great resource for this. I loved the book "The Christian Imagination: G.K. Chesterton and the Arts" by Thomas C. Peters. He talks a lot about this idea, and wraps in the need to remain childlike in order to accept it!
This is beautiful, and yes, fairy tales point to the Truths of these deeper longings we have as human beings. My husband has read At the Back of the North Wind aloud to our kids--I have been the one to read The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie, and I love love love Curdie, but now I realize I need to read Diamond's story, too. I even had one of my own fictional characters talk about Curdie within his own story, and I led a book club for our homeschool group on The Princess and the Goblin. So good to see other people reading George MacDonald!
I love that! I also read The Princess and the Goblin and while I loved it, I felt like the sense of longing and desire conveyed in At the Back of the North Wind was much more potent.
Listened to an audiobook version of this book years ago, with my kids. The story stays with me still. Thank you for this essay
Wow. This is evidently something I need to prioritize reading because I have been wrestling with the idea of such longing as of late. Thank you for sharing!!
I hope you enjoy it!
I'll have to add this to my reading list - thanks Maddie!
I read this book a couple times as a kid, along with several others by Macdonald, and this year I read Phantastes which is even wilder plot-wise. While I tend to be an intellectual reader, I do think that appreciating MacDonald really comes down to assessing how you are *feeling*–a catharsis of kinds–rather than analyzing the plot.
I would agree!
This is a lovely reflection, and I appreciate you bringing George MacDonald out for discussion of how he reveals "longing of the soul."
Thank you!
Beautiful reflection! I need to stop wasting time and start reading George MacDonald.
It is worth it!
I enjoyed this, thank you! Also, George MacDonald has a great poem that I recited quite often... 'Dream Song'.
I’m not familiar with his poetry! I will look into it. :)
Maddie that was a lovely and captivating way to share the highlights of this story! Oh my heart! I could really identify with this transcending longing too. I’m going to get the book. ❤️thx u!
I’m so glad, and I hope you enjoy it!
Oh my word, this was so beautiful. At the Back of the North Wind went from "I want to read that someday" to "I must read that now." Thank you for writing about this story in a way that communicates its wonder.
Thank you so much! I am so glad it had that effect! The book really is lovely - I hope you enjoy it!
I was also struck by how much of the book focuses on Diamond’s normal, daily life—and at times it almost felt as if I were reading two books; one was about his fantastical adventures, the other about how hard it is to live with hope and wonder in the midst of tangible, weighty poverty.
Diamond has this longing, to be sure, but he also learns to see what is beautiful right before him. In the mundane and even the ugly. And that “seeing” transforms him. He begins to make a difference in the lives around him, whether it’s for the girl sweeping the street or a baby that needs comforted.
There was also much about suffering—and the direct symbolism of “the north wind”—that I am still wrestling with. I almost feel like MacDonald was playing with the idea of why/how God allows suffering and what is OUR role in the midst of it all. Was this something you felt when reading as well?
Yes to all of this. I completely felt on a personal level that I could relate to the beauty of the mundane sort of “breaking in on you” that Diamond learned. And so much about suffering. I noticed it especially after he came back from the back of the north wind. He saw that all was somehow “good,” not in the sense of being blind to real evil and suffering, but he had such a beautiful conviction that in the end all would be revealed as good somehow.
This sounds like a lovely tale! 😊📚
Reading MacDonald is fairly consistently something like a spiritual peak experience for me. Just finished the golden key. I got Donal Grant coming soon!
I’ll have to find a copy of this book! I enjoy reading MacDonald, and hadn’t heard of this one.
What wonderful encouragement to read At the Back of the North Wind, thank you.
I think about this longing all the time! And also, how real stories are--even if fictional. I almost think the word fictional is deceiving at this point in my own writing. I've asked so many times (not the wind but God) why did you give me these people? Are they real? The answer has always been a resounding yes. Maybe it's part of becoming like a child again. I don't know, but it makes my spirit soar. It's funny because I just posted a thing on Facebook about how as a child John Denver's music spoke to this longing. I think this is my favorite piece of your writing so far!
That's so beautiful, thank you for sharing! I know C.S. Lewis had a lot of thoughts on the real and the imaginary. I have only listened to some podcasts here and there about it, and haven't yet looked into his own writings on it, but I want to at some point. Chesterton is another great resource for this. I loved the book "The Christian Imagination: G.K. Chesterton and the Arts" by Thomas C. Peters. He talks a lot about this idea, and wraps in the need to remain childlike in order to accept it!
I have to read that book. Thanks for the recommendation!
This is beautiful, and yes, fairy tales point to the Truths of these deeper longings we have as human beings. My husband has read At the Back of the North Wind aloud to our kids--I have been the one to read The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie, and I love love love Curdie, but now I realize I need to read Diamond's story, too. I even had one of my own fictional characters talk about Curdie within his own story, and I led a book club for our homeschool group on The Princess and the Goblin. So good to see other people reading George MacDonald!
I love that! I also read The Princess and the Goblin and while I loved it, I felt like the sense of longing and desire conveyed in At the Back of the North Wind was much more potent.
Can't wait to read it!