First, some slightly negative things.
You wouldn't think this book would be hard to categorize, it being
about talking animals and their everyday adventures. Given the
content, one would think it is definitely a children's book, right?
Well, I view myself as someone who has a fairly extensive vocabulary
and there are a few words I do not know the meanings to. Grahame
primarily uses simple language but will occasionally inject these
words. After having thought about it a little more, I think these
unfamiliar words occur because of when the book was written. We
simply do not often use some of those words anymore.
I know children's books don't have to
make sense, but the world within the Wind in the Willows slightly
annoys me. In this world there are humans and talking animals. It is
unclear where animals actually “fit.” Mole, Rat, Badger, and
others will eat ham and other meat, cows wander in pastures (I assume
some being raised for beef), but since the aforementioned characters
are intelligent, you wonder “What about the animals they eat?”
You could think, perhaps domesticated animals are dumb, but then, the
horse which drew Toad's wagon talked. Toad is big enough to drive a
full-sized automobile, “human” enough to be put in a prison
alongside humans, and yet the gaoler's daughter speaks of Toad almost
as if he is a “common” animal, which can be trained and fed out
of her hand.
All of the above aside, I have read The
Wind in the Willows 4 or 5 times and I have thoroughly enjoy it each
time. Though it is a children's book, I think it is one of the most
beautifully written books I have ever read. You often almost feel as
if you are reading a poem instead of prose. How Grahame captures the
simple beauties of the river, describes the barrenness of a winter
landscape, and the call of the elusive Pan are wonderful.
He paints characters which are easy to
love and friendships that are splendid in their quiet way. Grahame
shows how Ratty and Mole fit together so perfectly and yet also
points out the allowances they make for one another; he shares how
loyal, kind, and giving a friend Badger can be, despite all of
Badger's reclusiveness; and then there's Toad, who is generous,
prideful, loving, and ridiculous.
What is The Wind in the Willows about?
It is about the River, which is the love of Ratty's life. Friendship,
and how even perfect friends must sometimes sacrifice their own
comfort or happiness to put their friend's needs and wants ahead of
their own. It is about simple joys and longing, silly passions and
loyalty. Picnics, lazy days, warm fires, homesickness, and wanting to
leave home. It is about animals but also seeing in the characters
Grahame has made those things which make us human.
I would rate this “G.” There is
very mild violence and a tiny bit of language (such as someone being
called an “ass”). Personally, I think this book would be best
shared if read aloud, especially because some of the “bigger”
words.
