Commentary on The Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows is a collection of episodic adventures with kindly animals… although all the animals are bachelors who live on their own?

Does it have a place in children's literature in the 21st century? Especially in a New Zealand context? 

For a first-time adult reader (Ben), it is difficult to grasp the same feelings of nostalgia that comes from re-reading this book. 

This book is probably best read out-load between an adult and child - to encourage a commentary dialogue about what is going on. 

The panpipes section was a particularly less-liked section of the novel. Despite being the most lyrical sequence of the book, it was often left out during abridged versions. 

Ratty is definitely a character to enjoy reading about. 

Mister Toad is conceited, lacking no cares, often unpunished but "terribly fun to read". He is possibly modelled after the reckless Oscar Wilde? The jail that Mr. Toad finds himself in could be in reference to the one at Redding. What would Kenneth Grahame say? 

Kenneth Grahame lived near a river, and worked for the Bank of England. He wrote the Wind and the Willows as a collection of bedtime stories for his only son. It must have been hard to deal with his only son passing away in a train accident, apparently a suicide?

There is a longevity value to the Wind in the Willows. We compared the differences in 'quality' between Captain Underpants and Wind in the Willows. The timelessness of reading about the carefree adventures of riverside-dwelling animals. The physical quality of the actual book will 'weed out' the less important. Captain Underpants would be a good introduction for children to reading, but doesn't have much more literary significance. 

The illustrations are an important aspect to classics such as the Wind and the Willows. The originals will remain the timeless images that are engrained in our heads, but it would prove insightful to see how other illustrators dealt with it. 

There is always food. Always food.

Why should children read the classics? The vocabulary is different.

Is this book worth reading it? Yes - there are morals that can be discussed while talking with a child. However, there could be a difficulty for NZ children of relating to an England lifestyle. It is a book that will be passed down between generations if there are memories of doing so - a kind of generational relevance.

 

Written by Ben