I had occassion to read "At the Back of the North Wind". In spite of a really thick layer of Victorian treacle, I found it a deeply spooky work. But the character of the North Wind who is *spoiler warning* actually Death, reminded me very much of Death in the Sandman. She is sexy, sensual, wild, unconventional, dangerous, with a very deep kindness. There are differences of course - a lot of them a matter of the Victorian mindset. The North Wind is very clearly following orders, trusting they are for the greater good, where Death does not appear to take orders from anyone, but is instead constrained by an enormous sense of responsbility, of doing what she perceives needs to be done. Still the similarities are striking enough that I can't help wondering if the character of the North Wind influenced Neil's Death.