The Wind in the Willows

I've tried to think of a way to discuss this book. To sing its praises. To sum it up. To share some new bit of information. But I am at a loss. Perhaps it's because of how much I loved it. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a classic, to be sure, and I am amazed I've lived this long without having read the story. To celebrate its wonder, I decided to simply post some images and quotations from the story. You can read the full text of the book online here.

"It all seemed too good to be true. Hither and thither through the meadows he rambled busily, along the hedgerows, across the copses, finding everywhere birds buidling, flowers budding, leaves thrusting--everything happy, and progressive and occupied. And instead of having an uneasy conscience pricking him and whispering "Whitewash!" He somehow could only feel how jolly it was to be the only idle dog among all these busy citizens. After all the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see alll the other fellows busy working."

"Beyond the Wild Wood comes the Wide World," said the Rat. "And that's something that doesn't matter, either to you or me. I've never been there, and I'm never going, nor you either, if you've got any sense at all. Don't ever refer to it again, please."


"There's only one thing more to be done," continued the gratified Badger. "Toad, I want you solemnly to repeat, before your friends here, what you fully admitted to me in the smoking-room just now. First, you are sorry for what you've done, and you see the folly of it all?"

There was a long, long pause. Toad looked desperately this way and that, while the other animals waited in grave silence. At last he spoke.

"No!" he said, a little sullenly, but stoutly; "I"m not sorry. And it wasn't folly at all! It was simply glorious!"

"What?" cried the Badger, greatly scandalised. "You backsliding animal, didn't you tell me just now, in there----"

"Oh, yes, yes, in there," said Toad impatiently. "I'd have said anything in there. You're so eloquent, dear Badger, and so moving, and so convincing, and put all your points so frightfully well--you can do what you like with me in there, and you know it. But I've been searching my mind since, and going over things in it, and I find that I"m not a bit sorry or repentant really, so it's no earthly good saying I am; now, is it?"

"Then you don't promise," said the Badger, "never to touch a motor-car again?"

"Certainly not!" replied Toad emphatically. "On the contrary, I faithfully promise that the very first motor-car I see, poop-poop! off I go in it!"

--Kate