Scottish author George MacDonald was a Christian children's author best-known for his popular fantasy stories Lillith and Phantases. MacDonald was an inspiration for writers of children's fiction such as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, Madeline L'Engle, Lewis Carroll, and even Mark Twain. At the Back of the North Wind is the fantastical story of Diamond, a young boy whose adventures begin when the North Wind offers to take him for a ride on her back. Though Diamond is poor and his reality is grim, his heart is pure and his wisdom is extraordinary. Through his friendship with the North Wind, Diamond is able to encounter exciting and, at times, challenging adventures. In addition to its ethereal quality, this book is imbued with Christian philosophy and some Dickens-like social commentary. MacDonald emphasizes many important Christian themes, including pain, good and evil, heaven, and God's providence, omniscience, and omnipotence. George MacDonald wrote this children's story for publication in a young reader's magazine in 1868. Three years later it was published in book form and Diamond has been tugging at readers' heartstrings ever since. Full of Victorian style and ideology, North Wind is a story that is best read aloud to children and will thrill audiences for generations to come.

CCEL Staff Writer