The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
This much-loved story follows a group of animal friends in the English countryside as they pursue adventure … and adventure pursues them! The four chief characters – Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad – generally lead upbeat and happy lives, but their tales are leavened with moments of terror, homesickness, awe, madcap antics, and derring-do. Although classed as children’s literature, The Wind in the Willows holds a gentle fascination for adults too. The vocabulary is decidedly not “Dick and Jane”, and a reader with a love of words will find new ones to treasure, with Grahame’s delightful ability to spin a tale. Parents will appreciate the themes of loyalty, manners, self-restraint, and comradeship which are evident throughout the book. When the characters err, they are prompt to acknowledge it, and so a reading of this book can model good behavior to children, who will otherwise be enchanted with the many ways in which the lives of these bucolic characters differ from modern life. A classic volume that has endured the test of time!
6 Hours and 44 Minutes.
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