Customer Reviews

At the Back of the North Wind (Everyman's Library Children's Classics)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book reminded me a great deal of "The Little Prince" by Antoine Saint-Exubery, the main difference being that the underlying philosophy here is Christian, as opposed to the Easternish philosophy of the former book. Like "The Little Prince", it speaks quietly and simply of things that are so true we tend to overlook or forget them. Unlike the mentioned book, this one brings in harsher elements, such as poverty and abuse -- and shows how the simple wisdom of a child can overcome them. MacDonald's imagination is wonderful, and some of the dreams and fairy tales in the book almost outshine the "real" story. I love the children who dig for stars. This is one I enjoyed because it is so different, so simple and beautiful, and one I look forward to sharing with my children, should I ever have any.

PS - My sister read an edited, abridged version of this book, one rewritten to make it easier for children, and it was awful. It skipped whole chapters and left out some of the very best parts. I think kids can handle this book, just the way it was written. Stay away from nasty abridgements that are really censorship in disguise!

I love this book. I've read it 3 times, all as an adult. The fragility of life is portrayed in the person of little Diamond, an innocent, sickly child. Though MacDonald is occasionally preachy, (yet on target), he writes a story that will fill you with wonder and sorrow.

I so recommend this book. It is one of my top 5 favorite books of fiction.

This book is handsomely made. The illustrations are lovely, the frontispiece elegant, the pages heavy and the print very dark and readable. The story itself is a work of powerful, simple, and beautiful truth. A very good read aloud and discussion book. The author's handling of the drunken cabman chapter is a wonder of insight and wisdom. What a powerful book of goodness, for child and adult alike.

A beautiful edition of this wonderful and timeless children's classic. Elegantly done, great illustrations, clear readable print. Recommended!

This edition of "At the Back of the North Wind" by George MacDonald is, like all the other Everyman's Library editions I have purchased, absolutely gorgeous. It is made of a burgundy-colored cloth material with gold embossed writing on the cover & spine, the paper quality is spectacular, and it has its own bookmark (always nice). And from what I can see IT IS NOT ABRIDGED OR EDITED in any way. Oh, and did I mention what an incredible value it is...? Something like $12 if I'm not mistaken. I would get it while you can!!

This book illustrates why the Kindle isn't always the best mode for reading. The plates are beautiful and restores the feelings that a child's imagination created many years ago. The writer uses an old English form that the modern child may find confusing, but the story is one all children will find captivating. Superheroes and fanciful creates come in many forms and this book introduces some to you. The North Wind will forever blow a smile to my face.

This is a BEAUTIFUL book! Worth every penny it costs and more. I can't believe this book was so cheap.

Was very excited to get this book. After all, Tolkien grew up reading MacDonald, the book seems to be pleasing most people, and the edition is handsome. But unfortunately I was very disappointed. The volume itself is very well done, and the story concept was great, but the execution was not very clever or memorable, and I found myself humoring the author a great deal, plodding through the book, waiting for something worth reading to happen. My two cents.