Who Would Like This Book:
If you love charming animal characters and stories steeped in the beauty of nature, this is your book! "The Wind in the Willows" delights with its lyrical prose, memorable personalities like adventurous Mole, poetic Ratty, wise Badger, and the delightfully outrageous Mr. Toad. The story celebrates friendship, homey comforts, and the joys of simple pleasures, all set against an idyllic English countryside. It's perfect for kids, adults, and anyone who enjoys gentle adventures, timeless values, and a touch of enchantment. Bonus: illustrated editions make the experience extra magical!
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone sails smoothly down this river. Some readers find the pacing a bit meandering or the language old-fashioned, which can be tough for younger readers or those who prefer fast-moving plots. A few are put off by the episodic structure, dated social attitudes, or the larger-than-life antics of Mr. Toad (who can be more exhausting than endearing). If you're looking for non-stop action or a modern vibe, you might not get swept up by this classic.
About:
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a charming tale about the adventures of Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and the egocentric Mr. Toad. The story follows their escapades in the English countryside, from Toad's reckless love for motor cars to their efforts to help him regain Toad Hall. The book is a blend of whimsical fantasy and meditations on friendship, with anthropomorphic animal characters that retain their unique qualities.
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From The Publisher:
The much-loved classic tales of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad. When Mole goes boating with Ratty instead of doing his spring-cleaning, he discovers a whole new world. As well as adventures on the river and in the Wild Wood, there are high jinks on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels once and for all? The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is one of the twenty wonderful classic stories being relaunched in Puffin Classics in March 2015.
Ratings (160)
Incredible (32) | |
Loved It (66) | |
Liked It (34) | |
It Was OK (19) | |
Did Not Like (6) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (326):
Read It (178) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (72) | |
Did Not Finish (8) | |
Not Interested (66) |
9 comment(s)
One of my favorite books, delightful!!
Grounds me in a feeling of home unlike anything else. This captures a particular class of Britishness that resonates with my experience growing up in a small English village, and I love it for that.
Old review from 2020 below but don't have much to add in this reread.
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It was really cute but to whimsical for my liking, think I would enjoy watching a movie adaption instead
A cute story revolving around four animals and their trials and tribulations. There's nothing particularly substantial in it, although it should contain enough moral hints and cues for children to take note. Mr. Toad carried the story, partly because his behavior was so outrageous and that he apparently learned nothing from it, but the others, such as Mole and Rat, were real in their own way.
A classic tale. It’s contribution to literature cannot be overrated.
The Wind in the willows gave me the same impression of "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Hobbit" or "Narnia series". A story about friends, where all have their own virtues and vices.
Toad always a egoistic stupid spoiled animal. Water Rat who loves water,river and sea. Mole good at smelling but often forgetful. Badger, a dignified and wise animal. All compensate each other and show each other the right path when one is on a wrong one. Especially, Toad was the one who created the most of nuisance than he should have.
Well adventures of these four friends have given us a good story to read :)
A strange thing this book, although generally classed as juvenile fiction it comes from a time when such a thing wasn't really it's own genre.
The story is comfortable, and although there are threats of danger, the characters make it clear that they have little interest in the wider world beyond their home in the woods.
The primary cast Mr Toad, Mr Mole, Badger and Water-rat are all Edwardian gentlemen who just do happen to be animals (when it suits the events of the book), so the book can largely be read as a satire of the world of Edwardian aristocracy. However, to me this is a perfectly serviceable book for reading and rereading simply because the characters, especially Mole, are so incredibly charming.
gentle tale of very British animal characters
The Wind in the Willows is my favorite classic to read. Every year around October it’s my time to re-visit the original, enjoying the return to vaguely Edwardian England. So upon hearing of the "sequel" Mr. Toad’s Wonderful Gun, I was initially dubious then pleasantly surprised.
S.E.Wilson did an amazing job recapturing the spirit and atmosphere of the Wind in the Willows in his first book Mr. Toad’s Wonderful Gun, and I have seen it advertised everywhere on the news that, I had to buy it. I never thought I'd say this, but if they ever make a movie adaptation of this book, I'd watch it in a heartbeat. I recommend this book highly, it should be in everyone's book shelf.
What can you read after
The Wind in the Willows?
About the Author:
Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. When he was not yet five, his mother died of scarlet fever, after which he was sent to his maternal grandmother's house at Cookham Dean near the Thames. His father virtually abandoned…
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