At the Back of the North Wind

“My story is not the same as his. I do not think Herodotus had got the right account of the place. I am going to tell you how it fared with a boy who went there.”

At the opening of the novel, the unnamed narrator introduces the idea of the country at the back of the north wind. He centers the reader on Diamond by framing Diamond’s experience as more valid than the perception of an ancient Greek philosopher. This reflects the idea that children are naturally innocent and as such see highly spiritual things more clearly.

“But sometimes beautiful things grow bad by doing bad, and it takes some time for their badness to spoil their beauty. So little boys may be mistaken if they go after things because they are beautiful.”

This establishes the North Wind as a wise, mysterious figure in Diamond’s life. Her first lesson for him is to not make presumptions based on beauty—instead, he must observe a person’s behavior. This is good advice for any person, and Diamond’s acceptance of it nudges the reader to do so as well. This principle serves as Diamond’s guide as he moves through the world: He is not often swayed by people who are beautiful. In fact, some of his close friends are those who are not conventionally attractive, but Diamond sees something deeper within.

“That's of no consequence: every man ought to be a gentleman, and your father is one.”

This piece of wisdom from the North Wind establishes expectations of moral behavior and assures Diamond that his father is well-regarded despite his lower social class.