The Willows in Winter

Tales of the Willows #1

by William Horwood, Patrick Benson (Illustrator)

For now, in an act of homage and celebration, William Horwood has brought to life once more the four most-loved characters in English the loyal Mole, the resourceful Water Rat, the stern but wise Badger, and, of course, the exasperating, irresistible Toad. The result is an enchanting, unforgettable new novel, enlivened by delightful illustrations, in which William Horwood has recaptured all the joy, magic, and good humor of Grahame's great work - and Toad is still as exasperatingly lovable as he ever was.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Classics, Animals, Middle Grade, British Literature

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

William Horwood is an English novelist. His first novel, Duncton Wood, an allegorical tale about a community of moles, was published in 1980. It was followed by two sequels, forming The Duncton Chronicles, and also a second trilogy, The Book of Silence. William Horwood has also written two stand-alone novels intertwining the lives of humans and of eagles, The Stonor Eagles and Callanish , and The Wolves of Time duology. Skallagrigg, his 1987 novel about disability, love, and trust, was made into a BBC film in 1994. In addition, he has written a number of sequels to The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

In 2007, he collaborated with historian Helen Rappaport to produce Dark Hearts of Chicago, a historical mystery and thriller set in nineteenth-century Chicago. It was republished in 2008 as City of Dark Hearts with some significant revisions and cuts under the pen name James Conan.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to a well-loved children's story that isn't a patch on the original The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame but is charming nonetheless. The book also seemed to be split into two stories with a very tenuous thread linking them. I could see that this could be worked out in a film but reading it was a bit disjointed. It wasn't really the story though that the book didn't really succeed on for me, it was the characters.

When we read a book we get a distinct idea of the characters within it. We may not all see the same portraits, either broadly or in the brushstrokes and herein lies the problem of a different author writing the same characters as in the original book. It is also the reason that films sometimes disappoint. The second author, or the film director, has not seen the characters in the same way as the original author and so no matter how good the story, how good the writing, it's just not what we expected and therefore disappoints.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because all-in-all, it was an enjoyable read.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

It having been some time since I last read 'Wind in the Willows' my approach to this sequel, picked up in a second hand bookshop a while ago, was uncertain. I could remember the names of the characters, I could recall the general outline of the Kenneth Grahame's classic but I could not really call to mind the way the individual characters react and relate to one another in that story.

This was probably a blessing. I read this book without my placing the rather unfair pressure on the new writer of fulfilling my childhood memories or of maintaining an illusion of childhood long aged. Horwood is not in the business of transforming the original by looking at it from another perspective; eg. 'The Child Thief' which is brilliant but radically overhauls the Peter Pan story; or by transporting much loved characters into alien spaces or situations which can often destroy and uproot with no real success. Instead he sets himself to take the same characters, in the same places and doing much the same stuff. I cannot say whether he catches Grahame's dialogue or wit or anything, i don't remember the original well enough but what I can say is he tells a witty and fun story involving adventure, daring do, nobility, cowardice, vanity, sadness, affection, feasting, and excitement and he uses the river and the Wild Wood and Toad Hall and the castle and its courtroom and dungeon all to great affect and all without it becoming a same old/same old. He succeeds in injecting newness into an old and loved story and has a lovely turn of phrase.

Of the River
' he had never known her splashes so - sonorous; her meanders so - miserable; her normally majestic flow so- final!'

Or his grasping of the ease of their friendships
'It would be pleasant to sit in your boat once more with you sculling, which you do so much better than I, trailing a paw in the placid water, which I do so much better than you.'

Clever characters captured in a couple of sentences eg. The miserable but friendly gaoler trying to console a prisoner condemned to 25 years in prison;
'Look on the bright side, you're getting on a bit so you're not likely to survive more than twenty. It'll go by in a flash'

I also loved his personifying of the winter, making it a living character in its stubborness
'Winter's attempt to thwart the Spring finally began to peter out in April'

or again ' The next few days passed rapidly, and if the weather stayed inclement and Winter would not yet admit defeat and be gone, the spring-like mood among the animals of river, of bank and of Wild Wood made up for it'

Lovely, simple and towards the end, as arguments are made up and forgiveness sought and granted you nod and settle back thinking, 'Yep, all is right with the world'. Escapist nonsense but quite lovely.
'

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I am pretty skeptical of sequels not written by the original author, but from the very first sentence I completely forgot that it wasn't Kenneth Grahame himself writing this book! This is a PERFECT imitation of Grahame's writing! It just wraps you up all cozy like a warm familiar blanket, and sweeps you away to the magical world of the Willows.

The illustrations are delightful. Every character is perfectly as they should be. They pop right back to life! Each story line is interesting, funny, whimsical, and perfectly woven together. I can't even describe... my whole being just trembled with happiness while I was reading this book. It's like greeting dear old friends after a long absence, and finding that they are just the same, and our camaraderie is not lessened by the years. I want to read it again and again!

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wind in the Willows is my favorite classic, and I did not even know there were more books! I found this and the next book at a thrift store and was super excited to read them. However, I will say that this was not as good as the first book. For one, I thought this one was extremely dark and not as light hearted and fun as the first. I also thought that the story dragged on in certain places where I found myself wanting to skip over long passages. However, I did still live the characters and like Toad more now that he seems to have had a dose of reality (who knows if that will last), but I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what story is told next within the Willows!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got nothing.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I vaguely remember enjoying this non-canon sequel years ago, but now that I've finally gotten around to rereading it, I find myself unmoved by much of it. Horwood's writing style here does imitate the original quite well, but the plot structure and characters left much to be desired. The story follows the original book's pattern much too closely: Toad's latest obsession leads him astray from his home and friends and gets him into legal trouble, while Moly and Ratty are home dealing with less wacky problems and having vaguely supernatural experiences.
The characters as they are portrayed here are decently written, but lacking the warmth of their original incarnations. Toad is more selfish and less funny, and Mole and Rat have very little added to their characters. I did enjoy Mole's Nephew but I wish Horwood had given him an actual name, even if it was an unimaginative pun like Digby or Molton. Portly the otter was kind of cute, but became snivelly and grating sometimes. The character interactions were fine, but there needed to be much more interaction between Toad and the other main characters.

Having Toad's obsession move from motorcars to even bigger, more exotic vehicles has undeniable story potential, but unfortunately this was not used to its full advantage. The Willows in Winter is a respectable effort but much of it is too slow and dull, and just can't hold a candle to the original classic.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading and re-reading this charming little book every winter for I don’t know how long. For one thing it’s the perfect book for cozying up in front of a blazing fire (just like Badger in his snug den in the Wild wood). But also because it’s such a delightful sequel to The Wind in the Willows. And while nothing can compare to Kenneth Graham’s children’s classic, William Horwood has done a wonderful job bringing all the beloved characters back to life in much the same style as the originals complete with charming illustrations by Patrick Benson.

Back again are the gentle and lovable Mole, the dependable and resourceful Water Rat, the wise but gruff Badger, and the boastful but endearing Toad.

Anyone – no matter what their age - who has been so unfortunate as to never have read the original Wind in the Willows, is advised to read that one first because it’s so enchanting. And then, on cold winter nights pick up this one and let the icy winds howl and the snow swirl.

While these books may have been intended for children, they are both good examples of why the best children’s literature deserves to be read by anyone regardless of their age. And this one makes a great read-aloud book for kids and their parents to enjoy together. (Just like my son and I used to do.)

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I adored this book! I may have even liked it a little more than The Wind in the Willows, which is a bit shocking.

William Horwood does an incredible job continuing The Wind in the Willows story. It's frankly identical in writing style, tone, overall feeling and the way he portrays the lovely main characters of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger.

The illustrations are wonderful and, in this particular edition, the thickness of the paper just adds to the quality of the book. I'm not sure why, but this made my reading experience even more enjoyable.

The ending touched my heart so much that it took my rating from a 4.5 to a full 5 stars.

I loved buddy reading this book with my dear friend Caro (@carosbookcase) and I'm so happy that we'll be reading the rest of the series together, too. We both have our favorite characters (hers, Mole and mine, Ratty...then Toad) and it will give us a lot to chat about after finishing this book.

If you loved the original book and you're not sure whether to attempt this one, I say YES! Give it a try and you'll fall in love like I did.

The Willows in Winter was thoughtfully gifted to me by Caro ❤️ and it will be a guaranteed reread every January from now on. Highly recommended!

[ReadBecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horwood truly captured the heart of the characters and transports us right back to the river bank community at wintertime.

[panna.marple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimo zmiany autora, udało się utrzymać tę przytulność, humor, zimę w pięknej postaci i wspaniałą rozrywkę. Kocham 🦔🦫🤎

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well lets see. This one wasn't available via e-book so I bought it in December last year. Today was a cloudy and rainy day to I decided it is the right weather and day for this book. This is a sequel to the beloved classic of Kenneth Grahams story The wind in the willows written in the 19th century. And one of my most favourite books. I have read it many times and the story of the Wild Wood,of Toad Hall,of the river bank,of Ratty,Mole and Badger is and has been a delight.So I was very curious to meet those figures again. Despite Horwood is not Graham,in my opinion he established to write a new story but remain the spirit of Graham. In his writing he continous the joy and magic of the original,each character is the same,so Badger remains the crumpy old chap with a good heart, Mole the heart-warm fellow as ever and Toad is still as exasperatingly lovable as he ever was.
For me I felt at home with this book and concerning there are existing three more storys I hope I will enjoy the others as well :)

[J. Wootton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you missed William Horwood's 1990s continuation of The Wind in the Willows, you're in for a treat - especially if you, like Horwood, finished that great work and thought, "Toad altered! I don't believe a word of it!"

Nor should you. For this time around, Toad's obsessive nature has left off motorcars in favor of something Bigger, Louder, Faster and BETTER: an aeroplane.

Of course, of course adventure and escapades ensue. And meanwhile, poor Mole...

But I shan't say any more.

The Willows in Winter is a most worthy addition to the River canon.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread The Wind in the Willows last month and this was the perfect wintery follow up to the story of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. It felt very much in keeping with Grahame’s style and tone in the original and I found the audiobook a lovely listen while out on my daily walks.

[Mihaela Sattler · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Urletul vântului prin Pădurea bântuită de furtună era asurzitor și zăpada înghețată îi intra în ochi și îi lovea nemilos fața Sobolului. Drumul devenea tot mai greu din pricina zăpezii care cădea neîncetat, așa încât pentru fiecare pas Sobolul făcea eforturi mari, dădea o adevărată bătălie ca să continue să meargă tot înainte.”
Mi-am început anul minunat, în compania unor prieteni: Sobolul inimos, Șoricelul curajos, Bursucul înțelept și Broscoiul vanitos.

William Horwood a decis să continue aventurile celor patru, la ani distanță de când acestea au fost create de către Kenneth Grahame. Horwood decide să dea o continuare poveștii Vântul printre sălcii, în urma achiziționării unor ilustrații realizate de E. H. Shepard, după cum ne menționează în postfața romanului său: „Așa cum povestirile lui Grahame îl inspiraseră pe Shepard cu șaizeci de ani în urmă, tot așa Shepard mă inspira pe mine.”. Tot de aici mai aflăm că, ziua de naștere a lui Horwood coincide cu cea de a patra aniversare a fiului lui Grahame, 12 mai, dată la care Kenneth Grahame începe să-i istorisească lui Alastair, despre minunata lume a sălciilor. Acest fapt îl face pe Horwood să se simtă mai legat de Kenneth Grahame și să continue aventurile celor patru animăluțe.

Sălciile în iarnă, poate fi citit atât de către copiii curioși să afle ce năzbâtii mai pune la cale Broscoiul îndrăzneț, dar și de adulți. Noi, adulții, uităm câteodată ce înseamnă prietenia, iar această carte este o scurtă incursiune în inima noastră. Cu toții putem să învățam cât de important este să te ții de cuvânt când le promiți hermelinelor și nevăstuicilor o invitație la ceai, chiar dacă ești un Bursuc eremit morocănos, dar ai un prieten precum Șoarecele de apă care salvează situația, înțelegând că Bursucul are nevoie de ajutor:

“Șoarecele aruncă o privire binevoitoare în jurul său. Privirile îi alunecară pe mânecile uzate în coate ale halatului de casă cu care era îmbrăcat Bursucul. Și fotoliile arătau destul de învechite și cu brațele roase de îndelunga lor folosință.[...]

Există momente în viață când un cuvânt sau o faptă pot declanșa stări sau acțiuni care să ducă la depășirea unor obstacole, a unor necazuri și pot deschide drumul spre înțelegere și armonie. Și așa avea să se întâmple și în acel moment. Șoricelul spuse cu un glas neutru.

— Bursucule, am o idee! Cred că am putea să împrumutăm toate cele necesare de la Reședința Broscoiului. Nu vol avea nevoie de veselă pentru timp îndelungat și Broscoiul nu va simți lipsa lor. Chiar dacă la întoarcerea acasă va descoperi ce s-a întâmplat, nu cred că va avea motive să se plângă.”

Pe parcursul romanului, descoperim tot felul de învățăminte și sensuri ascunse ale vieții, iar cele patru personaje descriu extrem de bine tipologii de caracter umane. De asemenea pe toți cei patru burlaci ii pot vedea lejer cu ochii minții, în perioada edwardiană, stând la taclale într-un Gentlemen’s Club cu un pahar de gin sau brandy.
Prin intermediul experiențelor Sobolulului , a Șoarecelui și a Broscoiul ajungem să vedem crâmpeie din „Lumea Necunoscută”, ceea ce se află atât dincolo de hotarul Pădurii Sălbatice cu „dealuri care păreau a fi mai mult decât niște dealuri”, cât și cealaltă lume necunoscută care „ne așteaptă atunci când vom fi pregătiți să plecăm acolo...”. Amândouă aceste realități așteptându-ne întotdeauna acolo, pe noi toți să le vizităm, atunci când ne simțim destul de curajoși să parcurgem aceste drumuri.

În încheiere vă invit la un sandviș cu castraveți și un ceai cald(nu am gin) și de asemenea vă doresc să aveți parte și voi de aventuri la fel de minunate precum Sobolul, Șoarecele, Broscoiul și Bursucul.

P.S. Îmi spuneam acum câteva zile că mi-aș fi dorit să ningă, pentru că îmi doream și eu să calc zăpada ca și Sobolul în Pădurea Sălbatică... Azi a nins! Magie!❄️

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too derivative structurally of the original. It feels like we're treading the same ground here. Too much Toad for me, but you could say that of the original as well. The narrative drive went flat when Mole, missing much of the first two acts, shows up. The characters were well portrayed, the English countryside as well, but I need a little more narrative drive from a modern novel.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed, a palate cleanser for my head.

Love your antics Mr Toad, your friends are amazing, never let them go, but don’t stop being yourself either … they love the drama you bring.

[Becca Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible!!! I'm amazed that this "sequel" is not written by Kenneth Grahame, yet it's every bit as good as if it was written by him. The narration by Richard Briers was superb!

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my continued interest of reading sequels written for the classic book The Wind in the Willows, so that I can rate them all when I finish, I had to pick up the one that perhaps started it all- even to the point of receiving an animated adaptation. I remember seeing the film as a child but I don't remember liking it much. Before I read the book, I watched it again as an adult, and still didn't like it much- but The Willows in Winter by William Horwood turned out to be a different experience.

I will say, the characters here are not the same as they are in The Wind in the Willows. Mole is little more irritable (his frustration at the beginning with his Nephew who's stayed on with him a bit too long seemed rather out of character). Badger comes across as more of a senile old man whose friends don't take him entirely seriously, rather than the stern, wise figure he is in the original book. My beloved Water Rat is depicted well enough, save from the unusual choice to turn his adoration for the River into a spiritual connection to it. It was particularly strange when he catches a glimpse of "Beyond" and confesses to Mole that were it not for the dire situation he found himself in, he would have left in search of it right away. Mole then admonishes him by saying "you've always been like this-" and yet, I don't remember him ever acting so impulsively in the original book (besides the "Wayfarer's All" chapter, but the point of that chapter was that it was so out of character for him). Still, I enjoyed his depiction enough to not bring out the #NotMyWaterRat (which I coined after reading Jacqueline Kelly's Return to the Willows).

And then... there's Toad. Who, like in the original, nearly ruined the book, only this time it wasn't (just) because I found the chapters revolving around him tedious (and I'm sure if I had been reading TWITW without any familiarity, I would have enjoyed these chapters more). Instead, it was because his impulsive, selfish, conceited nature is exaggerated to his detriment. His callousness towards his friends (particularly Ratty, who he lets fall from his plane without a thought for his safety) was inexcusable, and led to me developing a real apathy for his character. When Rat and Badger both declare that they don't care if they ever see Toad again, I was right there with him. It would have served him right to keep him locked up in jail. The ensuing chapters regarding Toad's paper-thin deception in the house of the judge/lord/?? (I can't remember what his title was) did not interest me, and it all culminated in a particularly tedious courtroom scene that went on for too many pages (compare that to the courtroom scene in Kenneth Grahame's original work, which is covered in two pages at most). At the end, when Toad finally makes his return, it bothered me that he is never shown officially apologizing to Rat and Mole for endangering the former and not taking seriously the plight of the latter.

The only other thing I didn't care for in this book was Mole's Nephew. Remove him from the story and nothing changes.

Despite the annoyance of Toad and the weirdness of the other characters, I did enjoy a lot of this book. The language was right in line with the original book, though not quite as vivid in terms of imagery. The storyline was divided more evenly than in the original, especially at the beginning. It was less episodic and had a stronger overall narrative, and unlike in the original, I felt that there were just enough riverbank scenes to get me through the Toad scenes. I particularly liked the chapter where Rat and Mole discuss their recent traumatic experiences. It's rare to get a scene like that in an action-packed narrative, and it just felt satisfying, although I felt it raised a few loose ends that it wasn't prepared to tie up (in this book, anyway... I've heard that the later sequels that William Horwood wrote return to the idea of "Beyond").

I felt at times that Horwood might have taken inspiration from the 80's animated WITW series, though the similarities were very vague and probably could have been imagined by anyone. I highly doubt he's never seen the series, though.

I definitely enjoyed this book more than its movie adaptation (mostly because of how they handled the ending), and a lot more than Return to the Willows. Next up: The River Bank by Kij Johson.

[Wayne]

HAVE ADDED A VIP Post Script!!!see below.

Once I have read the two completions of Jane Austen's
unfinished "Sanditon" - I've already read "Rebecca's Tale", Sally Beauman's sequel to Daphne du Maurier's classic "Rebecca",(Goodness!!!Was that whirring sound dear Daphne spinning in her grave???)- I think I will get stuck into this sequel to "Wind in the Willows".And William Horwood has written not only one sequel but several!!A regular feast for the desperate lovers of the Original.(I may well be one of those!!)
Then I have this feeling - call it "inspiration" - that I might be then ready to seize my pen and scribe a sequel to.......The Bible!!!
In particular The New Testament.
But first I've got to get my paws on this Willows in Winter.
Shall be fun to be reunited with Rat ,Moley, Badger and...mmm, was NEVER overly fond of the deceitful Toad.
A shame Kenneth won't be there. But I'm sure he's too busy spinning. And not thread!!!

PS. Just remembered that Beatrix Potter ,no less, wrote a prequel to "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat" by Edward Lear. The book, much larger than her familiar pocket size classics,(this one has eight chapters), was published in 1930. But Beatrix was originally inspired in 1883 when aged only 17 while on a family seaside holiday at Ilfracombe in Devon where the long flight of stairs leading down to the harbour gave her the idea for a story. That story was "The Tale of Little Pig Robinson",
and she was still developing its ideas in 1901 and 1902!!She sketched a number of seaside towns for her tale including Lyme Regis in Dorset where Jane Austen holidayed and set a dramatic scene for her novel
"Persuasion" and the high sheds for drying nets came from Hastings in Sussex where Inspector Foyle made his contribution to WWII. The story explains exactly how that pig from Lear ended up on a tropical island and the Pussy-cat who helped him to seek refuge there may well be the one whose marriage ceremony he performed there 18 months after his arrival.

[Jane Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Willows in Winter, by William Horwood.
I read this book many years ago, and felt like a lighthearted, comforting read so I decided to curl up by the fire and read this lovely book. And as I remembered, what a delightful entertaining story William Horwood has crafted.
If you have read, The Wind in the Willows, you will know what to expect. The characters are the same and the mischief and drama both in the Wild Wood and on the River Bank will keep you enthralled and eager to read on.
From the comforting fireside grumpy Mole comes to terms with his visiting nephew, and soon mellows out under the influence of a nice hot sloe and blackberry drink with a slice of warmed bread and butter pudding, dripping with butter. It made me really fancy some after reading that paragraph, though unfortunately I didn’t have any about my person so tea and biscuits had to do.
The story gets going when Otter’s son, Portly, arrives at Mole’s house in the dead of winter one fateful night, urgently seeking Mole’s help.
And so the tales of the riverbank unfold with all the drama of friends in trouble, coupled with all the excitement you would expect, from Mole, Rat, Otter, Badger and of course the incorrigible Toad. A band of Stoats, Weasels and Rabbits are thrown in the mix as well, and of course high court judges, police officers and bishops add to the mayhem encircling Toad.
A beautifully told story, uplifting and amusing, just my cup of tea. A firm favourite with children and adults alike, timeless in its conception. The stories will live on for generations to come, delighting in the true meaning of friendship.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Horwood has brought us his own story about Mr. Grahame’s beloved characters. Here are Mole, Rat, Otter, Badger and the irrepressible Toad all brought to life once more without a note out of place. The voices of the characters are just as you remember them, their exploits, habits and mannerisms as endearing as that of old relatives.

Toad appeared reformed by the end of The Wind in the Willows. But a leopard can’t change its spots and Toad’s subsequent bad behavior has him falling off the wagon in a big way. The main story revolves around the puffed-up amphibian, caught in yet another one of his scrapes, but the focus is on the interaction of his friends in his absence. Without Toad, life is not necessarily kinder (these creatures dwell in Nature and that can be cruel for the unwary) but it is much duller and soon all the others feel the lack of his presence. When he re-enters the story, they are all too glad to see his return as is the reader.

Mr. Horwood has given readers an undeniable treat—the return of beloved characters with his own style that doesn’t necessarily obscure the origins of Grahame’s tale. An excellent achievement.

[Robert Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this as part of a two book set (paired with the original The Wind in the Willows) through the SciFi Book Club way back when it was published. I had first read the original in college and loved it. Even reading it parts of it out loud to friends. But every time I thought about reading this I hesitated. I can not believe I have had this book for over 20 years. I don't know if the long anticipation might have colored my opinion any or if I somehow knew all this time what i would think. I felt it lacked all the charm the original story had and most of the time I was bored with this. I will admit I have yet to finish it and I honestly can not say one way or the other if I ever will. I gave it an extra star in honor of my memories of those times past and for the potential of hope this book had given me.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read details: BBC7 29th November 2010


-------

The further adventures of Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole. Not the first time, and probably not the last, where another author tries to carry on with a character or theme already well-loved. I think of James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey as examples.

It very rarely works does it, not in terms of artistic prowess. Of course sales are high as all us 'holics are curious, however high sales do not indicate reader satisfaction.

So taking this as a one-off unconnected read, it was beautifully iPenned with some truly lovely descriptions however it didn't move my rowboat.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an admirable sequel to one of the greatest childrens works of all time, but it has one flaw: it is not for children.

Oh, it keeps the same characters, they get into the same amusing scuffs, their emotional upheaveal isn't too far in the forefront, and for the most part, Horwood follows the language Graham used so artlessly and so beautifully. However, it is simply too long for the children the original was aimed at, and if a book is unattainable by its target audience, its not quite perfect, is it?

Still, as a read for an adult who adored the original, its a lovely way to pass an evening in front of the fire.

[Lorraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of time I was listening to this I just couldn’t get my head around the world this was set in. At times, while the animals are living in holes with human style furnishings, they are clearly animals and correctly sized animals at that. At other times toad at least is clearly almost human sized (can ride a bike, fly an aeroplane etc.) and the world is also populated by humans who aren’t suprised or terrified by this giant talking toad. I either want a world fully occupied by anthropomorphic animals or one with humans not realising that normal sized animals are having human style lives. Not both, it doesn’t make sense!

Also the plot was so thin you could spit through it.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something about this book deeply resonates with me. I loved it! The atmosphere, the characters, the writing style, the pure BRITISH-NESS of it all! It warms my heart. I could easily connect with each character's thoughts and emotions, and how Horwood depicts their circle of friendship reminds me of Tolkien.
I would also applaud how Patrick Benson perfectly illustrates the world of "Willows In Winter!"

[_och_man_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miałam obawy, czy "przejęcie" pomysłu Grahame'a wyjdzie serii na dobre. Poprzeczka postawiona została wysoko - po lekturze wiem, że dla kontynuatora nieco zbyt wysoko (ale tylko odrobinę).
Mimo to, Rzeka i jej mieszkańcy to wciąż solidny (wodoodporny!) plaster na moje serducho 💙 Zetknięcie z jakimkolwiek innym literackim światem nie wywołuje we mnie tylu emocji - a to chyba najlepsza możliwa rekomendacja.

[Rik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my son, and we both enjoyed it; there were many times I had to stop because we were laughing so much. The characters are great, the rascally Toad adding much delight to the story.I liked the allusions of 'beyond' and 'He', adding a good backdrop to the idea of forgivness and acceptance demonstrated by the animals towards the selfish Toad. In all, a great story.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horwood did a good job with the characters but he didn't have to keep calling Ratty "Water Rat". The original book generally called him Rat or Ratty. While reading the book I kept hearing the voices from the Cosgrove/Hall series. The characters stayed true to the original.

[Gregory Moses · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a mystery fan, I have read some *dismal* pastiche in the past; lots of people think it’s easy to write like Arthur Conan Doyle, and it isn’t. And as for Lovecraft, the less said about his imitators the better. But it was in the house when I was visiting my dad this winter, and has a seasonal title, so why not?

I really did enjoy this in a lot of ways—it might just be because I’m less familiar with Grahame than I am the other authors I mentioned, but I think William Horwood did an astonishing job capturing his voice. I don’t think I’d notice if paragraphs from this were dumped into the original novel.

But this novel is lesser than the original in several ways. It’s kind of dour for one thing—first, everyone thinks Mole is dead, then everyone thinks Toad is dead. Characters seem to spend the whole book being angry or depressed, which is hardly in the spirit of The Wind in the Willows. The religious excursions of the original had a real ache to them—the idea that Mole and Rat must forget their experience with the divine, because it’s so beautiful that remembering it would make the rest of their lives unbearable by comparison. Here, it’s all thuddingly literal—God exists and Heaven (“the Beyond”) exists and they’ll all go to heaven when they die. Too pat to be moving.

Horwood trips even in some minor and avoidable ways—he has the idea of introducing Mole’s nephew but never managed to figure out how to deal with two Mole characters when one of their names seems to just be “Mole,” so he gets called “Mole’s Nephew” throughout the entire book like a first and last name.

And going back to the novel as being “dour” I was not sold on this depiction of Mr. Toad. I’m glad that he’s back to his old self a bit, and not crushed to earth and fawningly self-effacing as he was at the end of the original novel, but this:

Only then, when he was safe and sound once more and flying merrily about, did the cowardly Toad think of his erstwhile friend again, who for all he knew had already crashed onto the ground far below No doubt it was with a sigh of relief that he saw the Rat floating downwards in relative safety, though the sigh would have been less at seeing the Rat safe, than at knowing that others might not have reason to blame him for the Rat’s demise.

Obviously this is not endorsed, and Toad will experience travail and grow (who knows how permanently) as a character, but in a book that wants to have forgiveness and acceptance of others’ flaws as a major theme, I think “Toad doesn’t really care if he accidentally kills his friend” is a bit much as a character trait.

In general, though, the comedy-adventure scenes with Toad are fun, and the writing is charming—an impressive mimic job, and Grahame’s prose are worth mimicking! Hopefully, future volumes in this series sand off the rough edges and cleave a little closer to the original in spirit as well as prose.