Publication Overview
- New edition to celebrate the centenary of this classic children's book
- Complete and unabridged text
- Over 70 original illustrations by renowned artist Robert Ingpen
Kenneth Grahame's classic tale was first published in 1908, and despite scant critical acclaim, it met with instant popularity. Its greatest strength lay in its animal characterisations, and children and adults alike fell in love with the timid Mole, the friendly Water Rat, the imperious Badger, the mischievous Toad, and a host of other unforgettable creatures.
The quiet life they lead on the banks of the Thames is interspersed with adventures, normally instigated by the Toad, who has a propensity for trouble, and whose sudden and all-consuming passion for motor cars eventually results in his being kept 'a helpless prisoner in the remotest dungeon of the best-guarded keep of the stoutest castle in all the length and breadth of Merry England'. His escape dressed as a washerwoman and his journey home to Toad Hall are among the most familar and best-loved escapades in children's literature.
Over the years, the animals' adventures – on the river, in the Wild Wood and around the lovingly described English countryside – have been brought to life by many artists, including E. H. Sheperd, who illustrated the original edition, and Arthur Rackham. Now, to celebrate the centenary of its first publication, this magnificent new edition brings the story to life with more than 70 new illustrations by award-winning artist Robert Ingpen, so fans of all ages can relive – or enjoy for the first time – this heart-warming tale of friendship. |
