At the Back of the North Wind - Illustrated Classic Children's Book by George MacDonald | Books of Wonder Edition | Perfect for Bedtime Stories & Kids' Reading Collections

As an avid reader since the age of six, and who spent much of her childhood and formative years lost in one book or another, after I read this book, I felt sad that I hadn't encountered it earlier. Having a degree in English, I was fed a great number of books to read prior to graduation in 2007, many of which I could have done without. I don't regret my education, but I DO harbor a strong feeling of dismay that so few of the books offered a hopeful or positive outlook that one could take with one with optimism on the road of life.George MacDonald is a brilliant writer, who C. S. Lewis and Tolkien both admired and emulated in their own special ways with their fantasy tales that quietly introduced Christian values within the texts. Since there is no mention of the Christian bible, perhaps it is my own background that chose to interpret the tale within that context, but in any case, it is a beautifully rendered tale of an innocent child who experiences many hardships in life. I leave it to you, Potential Gentle Reader, to buy it for yourself and decide, as I did, how the world today needs books like these more than ever before. Jessie Wilcox Smith's illustrations only add to the joy of this beautiful book. I cannot recommend it highly enough--for children and those, like me, who have the heart of a child.