49 pages • 1 hour read
At the Back of the North Wind
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
At the Back of the North Wind, an allegorical fantasy short story collection written by Scottish author George MacDonald, tells the journey of a young boy named Diamond who has nighttime adventures with the mysterious North Wind. It first appeared as a series of short stories in a children’s magazine and was later compiled into a book in 1871. Taking place in the Victorian era, it features many characteristics of this literary time period, such as religious allusions, the influence of social class, and a focus on the day-to-day life of the characters. George MacDonald was a Christian minister and author who is widely thought of as a pioneer of modern fantasy literature. Notably, he mentored Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Other works by MacDonald include Phantastes: a Faerie Romance for Men and Women (1858) and The Princess and the Goblin (1872).
This study guide utilizes the 2017 edition published by the CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. The full text is in the public domain and available at Project Gutenberg.
Plot Summary
The narrator explains some of the legends surrounding the country found at the back of Unlock all 49 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By George MacDonald
