The Wind in the Willows'Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.' So says Rat to Mole, as he introduces him to the delights of the river and his friends Toad, the spirit of rebellion, and Badger, the spirit of England. But it is a world where the motor-car is about to wreck the gipsy caravan, the revolutionaries in the Wild Wood are threatening the social fabric, the god Pan is abroad, and the warm seductive whispers of the south are drifting into the English lanes. An international children's classic, The Wind in the Willows grew from the author's letters to his young son, yet it is concerned almost exclusively with adult themes: fear of radical changes in political, social, and economic power. Mole's acceptance into the conservative world of the River Bank, and Toad's wild attempts to escape from it, are narrated in virtuoso language ranging from lively parody to elaborate fin-de-siècle mysticism. A profoundly English fiction with a world following, it is a book for adults adopted by children, a timeless masterpiece, and a vital portrait of an age. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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Common terms and phrases
adventures animal asked Badger Bank began begins boat chapter Children’s Children’s Literature close cold comfortable coming course cried dark door edition eyes face feel fellow friends give Grahame’s Green hand hard head heard hold hole horse hour It’s Italy Kenneth Grahame knew late laughing leave legs letter live London looked mind Mole morning motor-car move Nature never night observed once Otter passed poor presently Ratty reached reads replied returned river road round running seemed side simply snow society song soon sort sound stood stop story talk tell things thought Toad Toad Hall Toad’s took trouble turned voice waiting walk Water Rat Wild Wood Willows Wind wrote
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Wind in the Willows Oxford World's Classics |
| Author | Kenneth Grahame |
| Editor | Peter Hunt |
| Publisher | OUP Oxford, 2010 |
| ISBN | 0199567565, 9780199567560 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Subjects | › › Fiction / Classics Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General Juvenile Fiction / Classics |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |