The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame, Arthur Rackham
eBook
(Digireads.com, June 9, 2015)
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS“A glorious tale of animal friendship and the beauty of the countryside and – most importantly – of everything turning out all right in the end.” (The Telegraph)Originally written by Kenneth Grahame for his own son, this edition of The Wind In The Willows includes the celebrated illustrations by Arthur Rackham. His illustrations for The Wind in the Willows were the culmination of a distinguished career. When he got the invitation from the publisher, “immediately a wave of emotion crossed his face; he gulped, started to say something, turned his back on me and went to the door for a few minutes. When he came back he explained that for years he had ardently wished to illustrate the book.”Shortly after the publication of The Wind in the Willows, author Kenneth Grahame got a letter from a fan. It was US president Theodore Roosevelt who wrote to say that "I have read it and reread it, and have come to accept the characters as old friends”.Since then the story has become established as “the evergreen children's classic” that also delights older readers.“The Wind in the Willows deserves recognition as a novel in which adult readers will find wisdom, humour, entertainment and meaning, as well as many passages of great literary power, together with characters who live on in the English literary unconscious.”Robert McCrum, The Guardian, The 100 Best Novels:Mr. Toad has been voted one of the 100 Best Characters in Fiction Since 1900 (Book magazine).READERS’ REVIEWS“Every child should have a copy of this book. A classic of literature. My little girl loved me reading this to her as a bedtime story.”“The love of this book has grown as I have grown older and each time I read it, I find something new and more delightful in it... I cannot recommend this book highly enough for children and adults alike. It simply transports you to a quieter, nicer time.”“One of my very favorite stories and not just a children’s book. The author’s descriptions of nature and the animals are wonderful.”“A very well-written classic that you’ll just love to read more then once. The boundless imagination of the author takes you to a different place every time you pick it up.”“When I was about 4, my Mum read this to me. Now I'm 71 and I'm reading it to my two little cousins. And I’m still as in love with it as I was before. It is ageless, timeless. It will be one of those books that lives forever.”“Loving every minute of this book.”“Total enchantment. I have known this book all my life. It is very very precious. Wonderful personalities, wonderful stories. Essential reading for children of all ages!“Great to read this as an adult, so many interesting layers that you don't see as a child. Classic good writing.”“A beautifully written story. Delightful moments of comedy, drama, sadness and true friendship. An absolute must for adults and children alike.”“This is an absolutely wonderful book, beautifully written and completely absorbing. Like other great children's books, it tells the truth about the human condition better than any adult book could do. It makes you laugh and cry and also makes you think and feel in a new way. Marvellous!”