So it appears that ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ is not nearly as well known as I had assumed it would be, which means I can only imagine that ‘At the Back of the North Wind’ will be even more of a mystery. I promise I have a Little Red Riding Hood around here somewhere ,they aren’t all random things from my childhood you’ve never heard of.
But seriously, though, ‘At the Back of the North Wind’, you should read it. It was one of my favourite books as a kid even though the back half gets very confusing and trippy, at least when you’re eight (I may be overdue for a reread).
Not sure where your quotes are from, but this is from Tolkien: “Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.”
Not a quote but a title – EotS, WotM is a Norwegian Faery tale (aka The White Bear of Norway). Similar to the story of Eros and Psyche, but with more bears and trolls, less Olympus.
Just finished the Invisible Library. Very good book. Wonderfully developed plot and characters.