George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind is one of those books that feels like a half-remembered dream. It follows Diamond, a poor coachman's son who lives in the hayloft above the stable. One night, he discovers a hole in the wall, and through it comes the North Wind. She appears to him as a beautiful, larger-than-life woman with flowing hair. She sweeps him away on incredible journeys, showing him the world from dizzying heights and teaching him profound lessons. But Diamond's life on the ground is hard—his family struggles with poverty and illness. The story beautifully weaves between his magical nighttime flights and his simple, kind-hearted days helping those around him.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a fast-paced adventure. It's a slow, thoughtful book that asks big questions about life, death, and goodness. Diamond is one of literature's purest souls—not naive, but genuinely good in a way that challenges everyone he meets. The North Wind is a fantastic character: she is both terrifying and maternal, causing shipwrecks one moment and singing lullabies the next. MacDonald doesn't give easy answers. He lets the mystery of her nature sit with you. The writing is old-fashioned but full of warmth and startlingly vivid images that have stuck with me for years.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who loved The Chronicles of Narnia and want to explore the stories that inspired C.S. Lewis. It's also for anyone who enjoys philosophical fairy tales that sit somewhere between a bedtime story and a sermon. If you're looking for a simple plot, this might frustrate you. But if you want to get lost in a profound, poetic, and deeply strange exploration of faith and innocence, this forgotten classic is a treasure. Keep a blanket handy—you'll feel the chill of the North Wind's passages.