Ginny's Reviews > At the Back of the North Wind

I last read this book when I was 9 or 10 years old. I remembered the portrayal of the North Wind as a beautiful, comforting woman, but was not able at that age to appreciate her mystical, spiritual significance. She now seems to me to be the embodiment of the spirit of love. I don't think she is Death, but that she incorporates some of the lovelier, reassuring aspects of death. I appreciate Diamond's gradual understanding of her explanation that she must sometimes do things that seem evil but that have an ultimate outcome that enhances the good in the world. The illustrations by Arthur Hughes in the edition I read reminded me of pre-Raphaelite paintings of women with long, flowing hair. I'm very glad my Vintage Book Circle discussion group chose to read this one! I plan to re-read both The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie sometime very soon now that I've remembered how much I like George MacDonald's writing.