The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (novel #209)

Toady; you know well that your songs are all conceit
and boasting and vanity; and your speeches are all self-praise and – and – well, and gross exaggeration and – and… ~ Rat

 

And Gas ~ Badger

 

 

The Wind in the Willows is a charming tale about anthropomorphized animals, and although it is considered a children’s story, adults may enjoy it as well. I certainly did.

 

It is about the sweet friendship between Rat (water rat) and Mole, the wild adventures of Toad, and the interventions Rat, Mole, and Badger make to help Toad mend his self-destructive and expensive ways. There are also two chapters that I would call parenthetical that involve Rat and Mole but are not essential to the plot: "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "Wayfarers All". They have an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality.

 

But to the main story: everyone should have a friend like Rat. He helps Mole, coming out into the wide world from his underground life. Rat teaches fastidious Mole to relax.

 

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolute nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing.

 

But also to beware.

 

Beyond the Wild Wood comes the Wide World.

 

It’s a children’s story, but something more profound is hidden beneath the surface. It is based partly on The Odyssey, or Toad at least is based on Odysseus. It is vague and uncertain most of the time. Still, Grahame leaves little doubt by naming the final chapter “The Return of Ulysses” (Ulysses: Latin version of Odysseus) as Toad finally returns to his fabulous home, Toad Hall.

 

In the end, thanks to his friends, Toad is turned to something better, though the reader doubts it is for good.

 

 

My rating:  4 out of 5 stars

 

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