The Wind in the Willows

Author: (English) Kenneth Grahame
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Wind in the Willows is a delightful fairy tale novel that portrays several lovable animal characters: the timid but adventurous mole, the warm-hearted and romantic otter, the chivalrous and charismatic badger, the boastful, showy, and fashion-conscious toad, and the honest and straightforward otter. They live along the riverbank or in the great forest, sharing joys and bearing hardships together. The vain toad constantly gets into trouble. To educate him, the animals go to great lengths, persuading and teaching him in every possible way. When the toad's home is taken over by weasels, they unite and work together, using their wisdom to overcome the larger number of weasels. Deeply moved, the toad resolves to reform and become a better toad. The Wind in the Willows was published in 1908 and later caught the attention of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote to the author, stating that he read the book through three times in one sitting. Grahame had a deep love for nature, and in his writing, his descriptions of nature are exceptionally smooth, rich, and colorful. As a result, The Wind in the Willows is hailed as a masterpiece of English prose.