Other editions of book The Wind in the Willows: An Illustrated Classic

The Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames valley. The classic story of how Rat, Mole, and the other river bankers saved Toad from his excesses. This book has it all: excitement, sentiment, destruction of private property (plenty of that), paganism, and a happy ending. The prose is beautiful and occasionally requires the use of a dictionary. Written as a children's story, The Wind in the Willows is enjoyed by many grown ups who relish Grahame's ability to evoke the long summer days of childhood.

A classic story of adventure, friendship, and morality beloved by generations of readers.The adventures of Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger have been enjoyed by readers for more than a century, and Kenneth Grahame's classic tale is now available in this illustrated edition. Join the mischievous and endearing animals of the Wild Wood as they romp through the English countryside, getting in and out of trouble—always with their friends by their side. A dozen full-page color drawings by acclaimed illustrator Arthur Rackham add a lovely artistic touch to the stories, making this volume a treasured keepsake.

The Wind in the Willows is a children's novel by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast-paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animals in a pastoral version of Edwardian England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality and camaraderie, and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames Valley. In 1908, Grahame retired from his position as secretary of the Bank of England. He moved back to Berkshire, where he had lived as a child, and spent his time by the River Thames doing much as the animal characters in his book do – as the book says, "simply messing about in boats" – and expanding the bedtime stories he had earlier told his son Alastair into a manuscript for the book. The novel was in its 31st printing when playwright A. A. Milne adapted part of it for the stage as Toad of Toad Hall in 1929. Almost a century later, it was adapted again for the stage as a musical by Julian Fellowes. In 2003, The Wind in the Willows was listed at number 16 in the BBC's survey The Big Read. Kenneth Grahame was born on 8 March 1859 in Edinburgh. When he was 5, his mother died from puerperal fever, and his father, who had a drinking problem, gave the care of his four children over to their grandmother, who lived in Cookham Dean in Berkshire. There they lived in a spacious but dilapidated home, "The Mount", in extensive grounds by the River Thames, and were introduced to the riverside and boating by their uncle, David Ingles, curate at Cookham Dean church.[2] At Christmas 1865 the chimney of the house collapsed and the children moved to Fern Hill Cottage in Cranbourne, Berkshire. In 1866, their father tried to overcome his drinking problem and took the children back to live with him in Argyll, Scotland, but after a year they returned to their grandmother's house in Cranbourne, where Kenneth lived until he entered St Edward's School, Oxford in 1868.[3] During his early years at St. Edwards the boys had freedom to explore the old city with its quaint shops, historic buildings, and cobbled streets, St Giles' Fair, the idyllic upper reaches of the River Thames, and the nearby countryside.[4] Grahame married Elspeth Thomson in 1899; they had only one child, a boy named Alastair (whose nickname was "Mouse") born blind in one eye and plagued by health problems throughout his life.[5] When Alastair was about four years old, Grahame would tell him bedtime stories, some of which were about a toad, and when he holidayed alone he would write further tales of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger in letters to Alastair.[3] In 1908 Grahame took early retirement from his job at the Bank of England and moved with his wife and son to an old farmhouse in Blewbury, where he used the bedtime stories he had told Alastair as a basis for the manuscript of The Wind in the Willows. A number of publishers rejected the manuscript. It was published in the UK by Methuen and Co., and later in the US by Scribner. The critics, who were hoping for a third volume in the style of Graham's earlier works; The Golden Age and Dream Days, generally gave negative reviews.[3] The public loved it, however, and within a few years it sold in such numbers that many reprints were required. In 1909, then sitting US President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to Grahame to tell him that he had "read it and reread it, and have come to accept the characters as old friends"

The adventures of Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger have been enjoyed by readers for more than a century, and Kenneth Grahame's classic tale is now available in this collectible illustrated edition. Join the mischievous and endearing animals of the Wild Wood as they romp through the English countryside, getting in and out of trouble—always with their friends by their side. A dozen full-page color drawings by acclaimed illustrator Arthur Rackham add a lovely artistic touch to the stories, making this volume a treasured keepsake.Includes…Textured cloth cover features intricate foil stamping and a full-color illustration A ribbon bookmark ensures that you never lose your place

"The Wind in the Willows allows every person who has always wished animals could talk to dream a little more. In this amazing book, Toad, Ratty, Mr. Toad and Badger form a tight friendship and have many adventures.At the beginning of the book, Mole is busy spring cleaning is home when he suddenly decides he is simply sick of the job and that he wants to see what the big world outside his home is really like. He discovers the world is a busy, crazy place and it takes a while for him to adapt. While he is wandering along the river, he meets his first friend, Ratty.Ratty is fun-loving and has a relaxed attitude about life. He tells Mole he will show him the world and proudly shows Mole how much fun life along the river can be. Ratty does not like new things, though, so he and Mole learn some things together.Mr. Toad is the next friend they meet. He lives in Toad Hall and is smart and kind, but he is also spoiled and believes he is the most important person in the world. He likes doing new things and gets obsessed over motor cars and houseboats. His wild ways get him into trouble several times.The final friend in the group is Badger. He lives alone and he likes it that way. Badger does not want anyone to bother him and has little use for company. Mr. Toad’s father was Badger’s best friend and he is disappointed in how Mr. Toad is living his life.The Wind in the Willows is full of fun and adventures for the best friends. It has serious themes at times, such as Mr. Toad and his prison time, but mostly it is a timeless story of friends who will do anything for each other. Children of all ages are enchanted by the thought of talking animals that have very human-like adventures together. This is definitely a cannot-go-wrong title for all ages!The Wind in the Willows allows every person who has always wished animals could talk to dream a little more. In this amazing book, Toad, Ratty, Mr. Toad and Badger form a tight friendship and have many adventures.At the beginning of the book, Mole is busy spring cleaning is home when he suddenly decides he is simply sick of the job and that he wants to see what the big world outside his home is really like. He discovers the world is a busy, crazy place and it takes a while for him to adapt. While he is wandering along the river, he meets his first friend, Ratty.Ratty is fun-loving and has a relaxed attitude about life. He tells Mole he will show him the world and proudly shows Mole how much fun life along the river can be. Ratty does not like new things, though, so he and Mole learn some things together.Mr. Toad is the next friend they meet. He lives in Toad Hall and is smart and kind, but he is also spoiled and believes he is the most important person in the world. He likes doing new things and gets obsessed over motor cars and houseboats. His wild ways get him into trouble several times.The final friend in the group is Badger. He lives alone and he likes it that way. Badger does not want anyone to bother him and has little use for company. Mr. Toad’s father was Badger’s best friend and he is disappointed in how Mr. Toad is living his life."

The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring- cleaning his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash; till he had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes of whitewash all over his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms. Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing. It was small wonder, then, that he suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said 'Bother!' and 'O blow!' and also 'Hang spring-cleaning!' and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat. Something up above was calling him imperiously, and he made for the steep little tunnel which answered in his case to the gravelled carriage-drive owned by animals whose residences are nearer to the sun and air. So he scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, 'Up we go! Up we go!' till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight, and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow. ...

Kenneth Grahame began to tell the tale of the river bank on the night of his son's fourth birthday, but what started out as a short bedtime story soon grew into one of the most enjoyable series of adventures ever to be told in children's literature. The entertaining exploits of the book's four intrepid heroes—Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and the incorrigible Toad—have captured the imagination of generations of children. This beautiful edition is illustrated by renowned picture book artist John Burningham, whose wonderfully evocative line drawings marry perfectly with Graham's vivid text. There are 12 glorious full-color scenes, full of detail, to enjoy over again and again.

Wind in the Willows, a long-time favorite of many readers, centers around the animal citizens of an English riverbank. Each animal has a different personality, from easy-going Mole to the wise and wily Badger, the spoiling-for-a-fight Weasels and of course boastful Toad, the owner of splendid Toad Hall who has too much money and too little sense to know what to do with it. The education of Toad by his well-meaning friends is a good lesson. The battle for Toad Hall near the end of the book is also exciting. The content is entirely suitable for kids. The prose is a pleasure to read out loud and creates wonderful imaginary pictures. And it's funny, too (for example, the scene where Toad is nearly struck down by a car, which he has never seen before, and decides he must have one.)