With 13 children of his own clamouring for bedtime stories it isn't surprising that author George MacDonald discovered he had a gift for composing fairy tales. But these were fairy tales with a difference. At the Back of the North Wind, the first to be published, became a Victorian favourite and marked something of a milestone in children's fiction. While owing a debt to Hans Andersen, Dickens and Kingsley, MacDonald created a distinctive imaginary world existing in parallel with the grim social realities of mid-19th ...
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With 13 children of his own clamouring for bedtime stories it isn't surprising that author George MacDonald discovered he had a gift for composing fairy tales. But these were fairy tales with a difference. At the Back of the North Wind, the first to be published, became a Victorian favourite and marked something of a milestone in children's fiction. While owing a debt to Hans Andersen, Dickens and Kingsley, MacDonald created a distinctive imaginary world existing in parallel with the grim social realities of mid-19th-century England. "A fairy tale is not al allegory," he once remarked. It is, of course, but the trick was to disguise it, to entertain the reader as well as instruct, leaving them to draw a moral if they pleased, or else simply to enjoy the fantasy. Children for over a hundred years have been enchanted and moved by the story of Nanny the crossing sweeper, her lame friend Jim, and above all Diamond, the poor coachman's son, whose life is transformed by a brief glimpse of a beautiful country "at the back of the north wind". The first edition (1871) was illustrated by the pre-Raphaelite artist Thomas Hughes, whose romantic and highly individualistic drawings are reproduced in the Everyman edition.
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Add this copy of At the Back of the North Wind to cart. $16.05, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1973 by Biblio Distribution Centre.
Add this copy of At the Back of the North Wind (Children's Illustrated to cart. $30.00, very good condition, Sold by Lavendier Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Foster, RI, UNITED STATES, published 1967 by J. M. Dent & Sons.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 7x5x1; J.M. Dent & Sons; London, 1967. Hardcover. Reprint Edition. A Very Good, decorative designed cloth boards with green lettering on front board and spine, binding sturdy and intact, bit of crimping to spine edges, rubbing along board edges, slightly cocked, bit of age toning to pages, spine buckram starting to separate from backing material, mild scattered foxing top text block edge, in a Very Good, some handling/scuff marks to panels, bit of edge/corner wear, bit of sunning to spine and verso, neatly clipped front flap, rubbed spot top front flap, small price sticker bottom front flap, Dust wrapper. A nice and overall clean copy. 8vo[octavo or approx. 6 x 9 inches]. 325pp., b&w illustrations. We pack securely and ship daily with delivery confirmation on every book. The picture on the listing page is of the actual book for sale. Additional Scan(s) are available for any item, please inquire.
Add this copy of At the Back of the North Wind (Children's Illustrated to cart. $55.54, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 1956 by J. M. Dent & Sons.
