The Wind in the Willows

When Kenneth Grahame first entertained his son with letters about a petulant character named Toad, he had no way of knowing that his creation—together with his friends Mole, Rat, and Badger—would delight children for nearly 100 years. Here they are once more, pursuing adventure in gypsy caravans, stolen sportscars, and prison, but always returning to their beloved Wildwood. And although Grahame’s characters are unmistakably animals, they remain endearingly human in their eccentricity, folly, and friendship.

Kenneth Grahame (1859-û1932) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and raised in Berkshire by his grandmother, whose house and garden would inspire the backdrop of his most famous work. His books of stories for children include Pagan Papers, The Golden Age, and Dream Days.
Gillian Avery is an authority on children-'s literature and lives in Oxford. She edited E. Nesbit-'s Five Children and It for Penguin Classics.