Did You Know? The Wind in the Willows

It's been a couple of weeks since the last Did You Know. This time around, we'll be taking a look at The Wind in the Willows and its author, Kenneth Grahame. Here are some interesting things I bet you didn't know.

Did You Know...

• A stage adaptation, Toad of Toad Hall, was written by A.A. Milne in 1929?
• English novelist William Horwood write a series of sequels in the 1990's? In spite of the huge popularity of The Wind in the Willows, Grahame never wrote a sequel.
• Grahame was originally a banker, and was the Secretary of the Bank of England? It gives this banker/writer some hope!
• The character of Mr. Toad was inspired by Grahame's infant son, Alastair? He was headstrong and independent, much like Mr. Toad.
• Grahame originally told the stories contained within the book to his son at bedtime?
• Grahame's son, Alistair, was blind in one eye, and had impaired vision in the other? Always troubled, he committed suicide days before his 20th birthday.
• Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne was such a big fan that he would read it to guests at parties?
• The Wind in the Willows was the last major work that Grahame wrote? 

Hmmmm, not so many interesting facts this time. Oh well, here's a fun clip that is not from the Disney version.

 

Monday Interview Series: Mr. Toad

This time around, we find ourselves in the sumptuous, but slightly damp splendor of Toad Hall. That's right, Mr. Toad, famous playboy and toad about town, has agreed to sit and talk with us for a bit.

Greg:  Thank you for inviting us. I hear that your schedule is very busy, so I won't keep you long. What kinds of things do you do?

Mr. Toad:  Oh, well, where to start? The life of an aristocrat is not all peaches and cream, certainly. I have a busy social schedule. The whole of the district looks to me to provide leadership. It's not an easy burden, but one I take on willingly as a mark of my birth.

Greg:  And I'm sure the entire county is grateful for that. Still, I've heard rumors of a number of  disturbing incidents. For example, there was something about a motor car...

Mr. Toad:  Ah yes. A regrettable incident, that. I'll admit that things got a trifle out of hand. You see, I've always had a fascination for anything new--and expensive. I had been on an outing with two associates--Rat and Mole. We were riding cross country in a horse drawn caravan.

Suddenly, we were run off the road by a superb vehicle. It was one of those newfangled motor cars. Rat and Mole were quite put out, but I was spellbound. I had never seen such a combination of speed and power. It was then that I determined to pilot one of them as soon as could be. Riding in a caravan seemed rather dull after that.

Greg:  So you went out and bought one?

Mr. Toad:  Er, umm, well I'm afraid I am rather impetuous when a craze strikes. Yes, I purchased the first one. I had rather a lot of nasty accidents--totally beyond my control you understand--that wound up costing me quite a bit in repairs and fines.