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.
I am resistant to saying “At the Back of the North Wind,” is simply about desire. It’s like saying The Divine Comedy is just about desire. Although in an unfocused and imprecise fashion this has some applicability, in today’s psychologized manner of speaking (after Freud’s wretched usurpation of the terms of Romanticism), the word “desire” has a distinctly different meaning than it did to a 19th century Scottish Presbyterian of a liberal theological bent like George MacDonald.
To put it more precisely, the story is about a soul coming to encounter God’s presence and love (really the same thing) and changing (sanctification) in the course of a lifetime’s journey with the divine presence. “Desire” only plays a role in that Diamond comes to love the North Wind, “desiring” to be in her presence continually. However, MacDonald clearly doesn’t see this as merely a human “desire” but as a purified love on the pattern of St John of the Cross’ “desire” for God.
In his writing Macdonald struggles — in the face of the Calvinist rejection of anything beyond the barest experience of Christianity, especially the rejection of the Eucharist — to find ways of expressing this divine gift of love for God. He is a spiritual writer gifted with such depth that he persistently finds ways to vanquish his own Calvinist background. Unfortunately, because of this struggle he found his way to a liberal theological Protestantism that lost him the pastorship of Trinity Congregational Church (a mainstream Presbyterian place).
So I resist saying “At the Back of the North Wind“ is about desire-as-we-talk-about-it-in-our-day. It really is the story of a human soul coming to sanctification in the course of a lifetime encounter with the divine. Love for God (and the accompanying prevenient Grace) underlies this story. So, to say that “desire” — as we talk about it in our psychologized time — is what the story is about, I feel misconstrues McDonald’s work.
Thank you for your post! In today’s world a magnificent writer like MacDonald is ignored while worthless rascals get literary prizes … Please keep up your worthwhile endeavors!
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 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. :)
I am resistant to saying “At the Back of the North Wind,” is simply about desire. It’s like saying The Divine Comedy is just about desire. Although in an unfocused and imprecise fashion this has some applicability, in today’s psychologized manner of speaking (after Freud’s wretched usurpation of the terms of Romanticism), the word “desire” has a distinctly different meaning than it did to a 19th century Scottish Presbyterian of a liberal theological bent like George MacDonald.
To put it more precisely, the story is about a soul coming to encounter God’s presence and love (really the same thing) and changing (sanctification) in the course of a lifetime’s journey with the divine presence. “Desire” only plays a role in that Diamond comes to love the North Wind, “desiring” to be in her presence continually. However, MacDonald clearly doesn’t see this as merely a human “desire” but as a purified love on the pattern of St John of the Cross’ “desire” for God.
In his writing Macdonald struggles — in the face of the Calvinist rejection of anything beyond the barest experience of Christianity, especially the rejection of the Eucharist — to find ways of expressing this divine gift of love for God. He is a spiritual writer gifted with such depth that he persistently finds ways to vanquish his own Calvinist background. Unfortunately, because of this struggle he found his way to a liberal theological Protestantism that lost him the pastorship of Trinity Congregational Church (a mainstream Presbyterian place).
So I resist saying “At the Back of the North Wind“ is about desire-as-we-talk-about-it-in-our-day. It really is the story of a human soul coming to sanctification in the course of a lifetime encounter with the divine. Love for God (and the accompanying prevenient Grace) underlies this story. So, to say that “desire” — as we talk about it in our psychologized time — is what the story is about, I feel misconstrues McDonald’s work.
A valuable specification — thanks for adding your thoughts!
I am not able to afford a subscription at this point, but I want to support your writing. I will be praying for your success at Substack!
Thank you for your post! In today’s world a magnificent writer like MacDonald is ignored while worthless rascals get literary prizes … Please keep up your worthwhile endeavors!
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’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.