The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame

First published: 1908

The Wind in the Willows is a gentle adventure story about friendship and the lives of a group of animals who live beside an English river.

Mole has spent far too long cleaning his underground home. One beautiful spring day he decides he has had enough of housework and ventures outside. He discovers the river for the first time and meets the friendly and sensible Water Rat, usually called Ratty. Ratty introduces Mole to the pleasures of boating, picnics and life along the riverbank.

The two become close friends and meet other inhabitants of the countryside, including the wise and rather serious Badger and the wealthy, excitable Mr Toad of Toad Hall.

Toad loves anything new and exciting. First he becomes obsessed with horse drawn caravans, but when he sees a motor car he immediately decides that cars are the greatest things in the world. Unfortunately, Toad is a terrible and reckless driver. He crashes several cars, gets into trouble with the police and eventually ends up in prison.

Toad manages to escape from prison disguised as a washerwoman and begins a long and very funny journey home. Meanwhile, while he has been away, a gang of weasels, stoats and ferrets has taken over Toad Hall.

When Toad finally returns, Ratty, Mole and Badger help him make a plan. The four friends secretly enter Toad Hall and drive out the intruders.

Alongside Toads wild adventures are quieter stories about Mole and Ratty exploring the river and the mysterious Wild Wood. Mole learns about courage and friendship, while Ratty discovers that even someone who loves home can sometimes dream of travelling to distant places.

At its heart, The Wind in the Willows is about friendship, home, loyalty and adventure. Toad may be boastful, foolish and forever getting himself into trouble, but his friends never give up on him.

It is a story in which a simple picnic beside the river can be every bit as important as escaping from prison or recapturing a grand country house.