Kenneth Grahame

One of the all-time great animal stories and a true classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame. The Wild Wood seems a terrifying place to Mole, until he finds it's full of friends - Kind, sleepy Badger; brave and lively Ratty; and the irresponsible Mr Toad, famous for his wealth and his car smashes. But there are also the sinister weasels and stoats, and they capture Toad Hall when Mr Toad is in jail. How will he escape? And can the friends fight together to save Toad Hall? Kenneth Grahame's classic The Wind in the Willows needs no introduction. Entertaining adults and children alike for over a hundred years, characters such as Ratty, Mole, Badger and, of course, the irrepressible Mr Toad have influenced children's animal stories ever since. Fun, exciting, whimsical and dangerous at times, The Wind in the Willows can't help but spark a child's imagination. In this Egmont gift book edition, Kenneth Grahame's animal book, is made all the more beautiful and enthralling thanks to the original illustrations by E. H. Shepard, the man who also drew Winnie-the-Pooh.

Richard Briers, Adrian Scarborough and Terence Rigby star in this full-cast dramatisation, narrated by Alan Bennett. When Mole abandons his spring cleaning one morning, he surfaces into the sunlight and encounters the Water Rat. Mole stays with Ratty in his snug waterside home, and soon he meets Ratty’s friends: Badger, who lives in the Wild Wood, and the incorrigible Toad of Toad Hall. This timeless tale of waterside Britain has been loved by generations of children and acclaimed as a classic. The story of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad and their escapades never fails to enchant. Many of the original cast from Alan Bennett's acclaimed National Theatre production appear in this Radio 4 dramatisation, including Richard Briers as Rat, Adrian Scarborough as Mole and Terence Rigby as Albert - with Alan Bennett as the narrator.

Hailed as one of the most enduringly popular works of the twentieth century, The Wind in the Willows is a classic of magical fancy and enchanting wit. Penned in lyrical prose, the adventures and misadventures of the book's intrepid quartet of heroes--Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and, of course, the incorrigible Toad--raise fantasy to the level of myth. Reflecting the freshness of childhood wonder, the story still offers adults endless sophistication, substance, and depth. The animals' world embodies the author's wry, whimsical, and unfailingly inventive imagination. It is a world that succeeding generations of both adult and young readers have found irresistible. But why say more? To use the words of the estimable Mr. Toad himself: "Travel, change, interest, excitement ... Come inside."

Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows is one of the most celebrated works of literature for children, and this Penguin Classics edition contains notes and an introduction by Gillian Avery. Meek little Mole, wilful Ratty, Badger the perennial bachelor, and petulant, boastful Toad: over one hundred years since their first appearance in 1908, they've become emblematic archetypes of eccentricity, folly and friendship. And their misadventures - in gypsy caravans, stolen sports cars, and their beloved Wild Wood - continue to capture readers' imaginations and warm their hearts long after they grow up. Begun as a series of letters from Kenneth Grahame to his son, The Wind in the Willows is a timeless tale of animal cunning and human camaraderie. This Penguin Classics edition features an appendix of the letters in which Grahame first related the exploits of Toad, and new introduction by children's literature historian Gillian Avery. Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was an English bank official, writer, author of The Wind in the Willows (1908), set in the idyllic English countryside. The work established Grahame's international reputation as a writer of children's books and has deeply influenced fantasy literature. If you enjoyed The Wind in the Willows, you might enjoy JM Barrie's Peter Pan, also available in Penguin Classics.'A charming book'Terry Jones

"The Wind in the Willows," by Kenneth Grahame, is part of the "Barnes & Noble Classics"" "series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of "Barnes & Noble Classics" All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. "Barnes & Noble Classics "pulls together a constellation of influences--biographical, historical, and literary--to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. When Mole decides he has had enough tiresome spring-cleaning for one day, the scrappy nonesuch throws down his broom and bolts out of his house looking for fun and adventure. He quickly finds it in the form of the Water Rat, who takes the wide-eyed Mole boating and introduces him to the mysteries of life on the river and in the Wild Wood. Mole also meets Ratty's good friends: the kindly, solid Badger and the irrepressible Toad. Soon, the quartet's escapades--including car crashes, a sojourn in jail, and a battle with the weasels who try to take over Toad Hall--become the talk of the animal kingdom. Filled with familiar human types disguised as animals, Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows," like all exemplary children's literature, has always appealed greatly to grown-ups as well. Though first published in 1908, when "motor-cars" were new and rare, "The Wind in the Willows" presents surprisingly contemporary--and uproariously funny--portraits of speed-crazed Mr. Toad, generous Badger, poetic Ratty, and newly-emancipated Mole. And lurking all the while within the humor and good spirits, Grahame's deeply felt commentary on courage, generosity, and above all, friendship. Gardner McFallis the author of two children's books and a collection of poetry. She teaches children's literature at Hunter College in New York City.

"The boastful, unstable Toad, the hospitable Water Rat, the shy, wise, childlike Badger, and the Mole with his pleasant habit of brave boyish impulse," noted "Vanity Fair nearly a century ago, "are types of that deeper humanity which sways us all." Written by Kenneth Grahame as bedtime stories for his son, "The Wind in the Willows continues to delight readers today. Basing his fanciful animal characters on human archetypes, Grahame imparts a gentle, playful wisdom in his timeless tales. Few readers will be able to resist an invitation to join the Wild Wooders at Toad Hall, enjoy a quick splash in the river with Rat and Badger, or take a swerving ride with Toad in a "borrowed" motor-car. This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the first illustrated American edition of 1913.

Die unvergesslichen Abenteuer vom Maulwurf und seinen Freunden - im schönen Grossformat, mit den Originialillustrationen von E. H. Shepard und in der Übersetzung von Harry Rowohlt.

Wind in den Weiden ist ein Klassiker der englischen Kinderliteratur. Seine Hauptpersonen, vier liebenswerte vierfüßige Gentlemen, haben schon Generationen von jungen und älteren Leserinnen und Lesern zum Schmunzeln, aber auch zum Nachdenken gebracht - denn das, was Ratte, Maulwurf, Kröterich und Dachs so alles widerfährt, trägt oft sehr menschliche Züge. Und dennoch, auch wenn Dachs und Maulwurf in Höhlen hausen, die mit Mini-Menschenmöbeln ausgestattet sind, entspricht ihr Leben der Natur der Tiere. Sie leben in Freiheit, folgen dem Lauf des Jahres, vernehmen den Ruf der Heimat und sind glücklich, wenn sie beides haben: die Sicherheit des angestammten Baus und die unerschütterliche Treue ihrer Freunde. - Ein Klassiker der englischen Kinderliteratur - von Kenneth Grahame meisterhaft erzählt - Hinreißende Illustrationen von Eric Kincaid - Übersetzt von Sybil Gräfin Schönfeld - Für Kinder und Jugendliche ab 8 Jahren

'There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.' When the Water Rat invites the unassuming Mole to spend his first day ever in a boat on the river, and wise Badger comes along for the ride as well, so begins a marvellous season of adventure for the three friends. Mr Toad (he of Toad Hall) completes a happy foursome, but his tendency to get into hot water leads him into some rather hair-raising scrapes of his own. From an idyllic riverside picnic to a snowy encounter in the Wild Woods, and from poop-pooping in Toad's shiny new motor car to fighting against the massed ranks of Stoats, Weasels and Ferrets in a battle for Toad Hall, there's never a dull moment when they are all together! In his own inimitable style, Alan Bennett gives voice to each and every character in Kenneth Grahame's beguiling novel.3 CDs. 3 hrs.