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The Wind In The Willows
The Adapted Version of the Classic Stories from The Wind in the Willows, with illustrations.
187 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 23, 2009
I bought a copy of this a ways back when it was on a discount table. I've started reading it aloud to Natalie. I really know nothing about this book except that it is a famous, so I expect it to be good. At first, I had my doubts. I really didn't enjoy the first chapter, but once I got through the second chapter, things picked up. I was very surprised at the complexity of the language and sentence structure. It made reading it cold out loud difficult and, as is often the case with old children's classics, I found it hard to believe that kids read this easily. Most of my high schoolers would complain about how this text is written. Anyway, I got over that as well and came to appreciate how the author described the landscapes in particular, which is usually something I don't care much for. I had expected to read one continuous story, so I was surprised that most of the chapters were independent stories. In fact, the continuous story of Toad was probably one of the parts I liked the least; although the most funny parts seemed to happen with Toad. I don't foresee myself reading this again to Natalie for a long time. I think the writing style would get in the way of her enjoying the story until she is much much older.
August 21, 2015
'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame was my dad's favorite book when he was a kid in the 1950s. I didn't read it until I was an adult, and it was a bit hard for me to place it in its proper context without looking up a little background on it. It was originally published in 1908, and I suppose the anthropomorphized animal tale can be thought of as a descendant of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (first published 1865) and an ancestor of Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). In fact, 'Winnie-the-Pooh' author A.A. Milne adapted parts of 'The Wind in the Willows' into a stage play called 'Toad of Toad Hall' in 1929.
'Willows' is really a set of two interconnected stories. One is a set of vignettes about the friendship between Mole and Rat. Wikipedia says Rat is actually a water vole, which I suppose is a European animal somewhat similar to an animal I see outside my house all the time, the muskrat. The setting of 'Willows' is the area surrounding the Thames River in England.
Kenneth Grahame was a banker by trade, and he worked for the Bank of England for most of his career. He had a secondary career as a writer, though, and he wrote these stories particularly for the amusement of his own son Alistair - similar to the way Peter S. Beagle wrote The Last Unicorn.
The other vein of stories running through 'Willows' is about Toad, an impulsive and vainglorious animal with a habit of taking up hobbies and then abandoning them. He does have an ongoing obsession with motorcars, though, which gets him into trouble with the law. (Keep in mind that in 1908, motorcars were very new and still had to share the roads with horses and carriages.) He ends up imprisoned, but escapes with the help of the jailer's daughter. He spends much of the book disguised as, and mistaken for, a human washerwoman. He considers this a great insult to his pride.
The age and setting of the story make it a bit exotic to me. Grahame contributes to this impression by creating an idealized, pastoral setting, a version of Merry Old England. You can read more about Merry England or Merrie Olde England in the "pseudohistory" category on Wikipedia. The writer(s) define it as "an English autostereotype, a utopian conception of English society and culture based on an idyllic pastoral way of life that was allegedly prevalent at some time between the Middle Ages and the onset of the Industrial Revolution. More broadly, it connotes a putative essential Englishness with nostalgic overtones, incorporating such cultural symbols as the thatched cottage, the country inn, the cup of tea and the Sunday roast. Children's storybooks and fairytales written in the Victorian period often used this as a setting as it is seen as a mythical utopia. They often contain nature-loving mythological creatures such as elves and fairies, as well as Robin Hood. It may be treated both as a product of the sentimental nostalgic imagination and as an ideological or political construct, often underwriting various sorts of conservative world-views."
I don't think 'Willows' is political, but it is nostalgic and idealized. Although Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, his father moved him and his three siblings to the Oxford area (Berkshire, which is just south of Oxforshire) when Grahame was five years old. He grew up boating on the Thames with his uncle in settings that inspired 'Willows' (and probably would have seemed familiar to Lyra Belacqua in The Golden Compass).
While fairies and elves fail to show up in the 'Willows' stories, the god Pan makes an appearance, although he is described rather than specifically named. When Otter's little son Portly goes missing, Rat and Mole find him sleeping peacefully between the cloven hooves of Pan, who is playing the pan-flute. After Mole and Rat depart with Portly, Pan wipes the memories of the animals clean of every having met him, presumably because the old gods are somewhat terrifying to mortals.
There are just a few fantasy elements in the story; they pop up and then they quickly dissipate, as when the Wayfarer - a wandering sea rat - seems to put some kind of spell over Rat that makes him want to leave home and take to the sea. He shakes off the spell with the help of Mole.
It took me a little while to get into this book, because at first it seems to be a collection of loosely-related talking animal stories with very little plot. Once the Toad stories take prominence, there's a bit more of a plot, and it does have a recognizable climax and denouement, even if the ending does seem a bit rushed. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's become a new favorite of mine, but I do appreciate some of its charms. I think Rat was my favorite character. Who wouldn't want to do little else in life besides hanging out with friends and messing about in boats?
'Willows' is really a set of two interconnected stories. One is a set of vignettes about the friendship between Mole and Rat. Wikipedia says Rat is actually a water vole, which I suppose is a European animal somewhat similar to an animal I see outside my house all the time, the muskrat. The setting of 'Willows' is the area surrounding the Thames River in England.
Kenneth Grahame was a banker by trade, and he worked for the Bank of England for most of his career. He had a secondary career as a writer, though, and he wrote these stories particularly for the amusement of his own son Alistair - similar to the way Peter S. Beagle wrote The Last Unicorn.
The other vein of stories running through 'Willows' is about Toad, an impulsive and vainglorious animal with a habit of taking up hobbies and then abandoning them. He does have an ongoing obsession with motorcars, though, which gets him into trouble with the law. (Keep in mind that in 1908, motorcars were very new and still had to share the roads with horses and carriages.) He ends up imprisoned, but escapes with the help of the jailer's daughter. He spends much of the book disguised as, and mistaken for, a human washerwoman. He considers this a great insult to his pride.
The age and setting of the story make it a bit exotic to me. Grahame contributes to this impression by creating an idealized, pastoral setting, a version of Merry Old England. You can read more about Merry England or Merrie Olde England in the "pseudohistory" category on Wikipedia. The writer(s) define it as "an English autostereotype, a utopian conception of English society and culture based on an idyllic pastoral way of life that was allegedly prevalent at some time between the Middle Ages and the onset of the Industrial Revolution. More broadly, it connotes a putative essential Englishness with nostalgic overtones, incorporating such cultural symbols as the thatched cottage, the country inn, the cup of tea and the Sunday roast. Children's storybooks and fairytales written in the Victorian period often used this as a setting as it is seen as a mythical utopia. They often contain nature-loving mythological creatures such as elves and fairies, as well as Robin Hood. It may be treated both as a product of the sentimental nostalgic imagination and as an ideological or political construct, often underwriting various sorts of conservative world-views."
I don't think 'Willows' is political, but it is nostalgic and idealized. Although Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, his father moved him and his three siblings to the Oxford area (Berkshire, which is just south of Oxforshire) when Grahame was five years old. He grew up boating on the Thames with his uncle in settings that inspired 'Willows' (and probably would have seemed familiar to Lyra Belacqua in The Golden Compass).
While fairies and elves fail to show up in the 'Willows' stories, the god Pan makes an appearance, although he is described rather than specifically named. When Otter's little son Portly goes missing, Rat and Mole find him sleeping peacefully between the cloven hooves of Pan, who is playing the pan-flute. After Mole and Rat depart with Portly, Pan wipes the memories of the animals clean of every having met him, presumably because the old gods are somewhat terrifying to mortals.
There are just a few fantasy elements in the story; they pop up and then they quickly dissipate, as when the Wayfarer - a wandering sea rat - seems to put some kind of spell over Rat that makes him want to leave home and take to the sea. He shakes off the spell with the help of Mole.
It took me a little while to get into this book, because at first it seems to be a collection of loosely-related talking animal stories with very little plot. Once the Toad stories take prominence, there's a bit more of a plot, and it does have a recognizable climax and denouement, even if the ending does seem a bit rushed. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's become a new favorite of mine, but I do appreciate some of its charms. I think Rat was my favorite character. Who wouldn't want to do little else in life besides hanging out with friends and messing about in boats?
July 18, 2014
It wasn't the best adaptation but you could follow the story and the girls really enjoyed it.
March 28, 2020
Oh, love this book! The story was simple indeed. If only we all can live as such. I love all the characters except that Mr. Toad who is so vain and boastful. Grrrrr, I feel like giving him a smack, or two! The illustrations are beautiful.
November 19, 2023
Although we should have read the original version, instead of the adapted version, I found that this book was lots of fun. Full of whimsy and entertaining characters doing funny things, its definitely worth a read.
February 9, 2013
Finally finished! I hadn't recalled how dull this book was. But we stuck it out and finished it. Probably should have waited a few more years to read this with Miles. There was some more complicated language than he's used to. He didn't complain too much, he just wasn't excited about it.
May 14, 2014
My 5 year old just finished this book. He said he enjoyed it and it was fun. (he read it in 2 days) He didn't want to put it down... He gave it 4 stars because he said even though he liked it, he wouldn't want to ever read it again.
February 28, 2014
It was really good! It is all about Mr. Mole and the Water Rat. they go on adventures and meet Mr.Badger too!
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November 12, 2020How do I read get to my shelf so I can read this?
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August 3, 2022Bsjsjs
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2024
For unknown reasons I never read this as a kid, it’s sweet with a few life lessons thrown in. I’m rating it like I would if I’d read it when I was ten.
December 14, 2025
I loved reading about these adventures!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews