Wind between willows

Author: Graham, translated by Ren Rongrong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: In this work, the completely British-style peaceful and tranquil rural life and the warm family atmosphere are deeply moving. Every time the mole and the water vole return from their outings, they see the small window lit by the light and think with deep affection of the hearth and tableware at home, of the simple beds that bring them peace and happiness. The world is vast, but they stick to their own circle of life, believing that there are enough interesting things there to last them a lifetime. We often see children running away from home in many children's literature works. They run away from home and live happily alone. Home is a broken cage for them. But in this fairy tale, although the mole leaves his underground home under the call of spring and moves to the riverbank to live with the water vole, enjoying happy days, one night, as he passes through the fields, he suddenly feels the sweet call of "home." It flies from the sky and gently touches him, reminding him sadly, reproachfully, without any anger or resentment, that it is there. It is simple, narrow, and poorly furnished, but it was built by his own hands, and it was once so happy with him. Now, "it misses him and wants him to come back." How many other works can create such a warm atmosphere of home, convey so movingly the beauty, happiness, and longing for home? Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows, though written for his son "Little Mouse," was also written for himself by this British gentleman of the early 20th century. The story includes the comical legend of the toad, as well as the life along the River Thames in England through the four seasons. The friendship between the mole, the water vole, and the badger is so profound and rare that their appearances resemble British gentlemen in suits, with ties, holding umbrellas. I love this fairy tale so much because it is not just a fairy tale but also a highly elegant piece of British prose. The descriptions of the four seasons along the riverbank and the small animals living there are extremely delicate and literary. Such writing style is rarely seen in children's literature works afterward. Children's literature from the mid-to-late 20th century might be more playful and fun, more lively and engaging, able to be read through in one sitting and make children laugh out loud, but they lack a touch of wind—a touch of warm wind, an elegant wind, a natural wind. This wind has already vanished forever in the passage of life. The pace of civilization has accelerated, lifestyles have changed, and the distance between humans and nature has grown even farther.