The Wind in the Willows -
Kenneth Grahame, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator)
1931 - Methuen &, London - First Edition with Shepard&rsquo
‘And you really live by The River? What a jolly life!’
‘By it and with it and on it and in it,’ said the Rat... ‘It’s my world, and I don’t want any other. What it hasn’t got is not worth having, and what it doesn’t know is not worth knowing.’
A superior example of the first edition to contain the classic and charming illustrations by Ernest Shepard, with his wonderful two page map endpapers at the front . ***
‘Toad sat straight down in the middle of the dusty road, his legs stretched out before him, and stared fixedly in the direction of the disappearing motor-car. He breathed short, his face wore a placid, satisfied expression, and at intervals he faintly murmured “Poop-poop!”’
The Wind in the Willows can be read in many different ways; as a wry commentary on the class system of Edwardian England, as a warning of the threat of social change and the destruction of rural values, as an oblique manifesto of Grahame’s own views on politics, religion, and social reform.
In the above scene from chapter two, Mr Toad, after nearly being killed by a passing motorist, falls in love with the idea of speed, “Villages skipped, towns and cities jumped - always somebody else’s horizon! O Bliss! O poop-poop! O my! O my!” The motor car here is a force of chaotic, destructive energy that sunders the arcadian world of the river bank, and Mr. Toad, transfixed as he sits in the middle of the road watching the machine recede into the distance, stands for the point at which the human spirit is seduced by the folly of its own desires. The motor car changed their lives, and ours for ever.’ – Gerard Woodward, The Little Black Book.
***
Shepard on meeting Grahame to discuss the illustrations to 'The Wind in the Willows' :-
"Not sure about his new illustrator of his book, he listened patiently while I told him what I hoped to do. Then he said 'I love these little people, be kind to them'. Just that; but sitting forward in his chair, resting upon the arms, his fine handsome head turned aside, looking like some ancient Viking, warming, he told me of the river nearby, of the meadows where mole broke ground that spring morning, of the banks where Rat had his house, of the pool where Otter hid, and of Wild Wood way up on the hill above the river. ...He would like, he said, to go with me to show me the river bank that he knew so well, ‘...but now I cannot walk so far and you must find your way alone'."
Grahame passed away before the publication of this new edition with what have become the illustrations that are most loved and associated with 'The Wind in the Willows' .
***
Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was born in Edinburgh, but grew up with relatives in Berkshire where he developed his love for the countryside surrounding the upper parts of the River Thames. He was educated at St. Edward's in Oxford, but instead of going on to Oxford University he joined the Bank of England, where he rose to become Secretary. He wrote several books including The Golden Age and Dream Days which includes the short story The Reluctant Dragon (later made into a Disney movie). Grahame developed the character of Toad in The Wind in the Willows to amuse his young son, Alistair, and it was first published in 1908.
Provenance: Small gift inscription to front free endpaper dated Xmas 1931.
References: The Observer - All-Time 100 Best Novels [2003]. Modern Library - Top 100 Novels [1998]. BBC Big Read (200 Best Novels) [2003]. Book Collector No. 271, The Great Illustrators.
Octavo (book size 19.5x13.7cm), pp. [8] 312, 8 (Methuen’s Catalogue dated 10.31). In Publisher’s green cloth, titled in gilt to spine, and with gilt blocked illustrations of Mole, Rat, and Mr Toad to front panel, top edge tinted green, endpapers illustrated with maps. Condition: Near fine, light foxing to edges, endpapers and front and rear free endpapers, one or two finger marks to pages, in near fine cloth, minor rubbing to corners and spine ends, spine very slightly toned. Ref: 112073 Price: HK$ 4,500
‘By it and with it and on it and in it,’ said the Rat... ‘It’s my world, and I don’t want any other. What it hasn’t got is not worth having, and what it doesn’t know is not worth knowing.’
A superior example of the first edition to contain the classic and charming illustrations by Ernest Shepard, with his wonderful two page map endpapers at the front . ***
‘Toad sat straight down in the middle of the dusty road, his legs stretched out before him, and stared fixedly in the direction of the disappearing motor-car. He breathed short, his face wore a placid, satisfied expression, and at intervals he faintly murmured “Poop-poop!”’
The Wind in the Willows can be read in many different ways; as a wry commentary on the class system of Edwardian England, as a warning of the threat of social change and the destruction of rural values, as an oblique manifesto of Grahame’s own views on politics, religion, and social reform.
In the above scene from chapter two, Mr Toad, after nearly being killed by a passing motorist, falls in love with the idea of speed, “Villages skipped, towns and cities jumped - always somebody else’s horizon! O Bliss! O poop-poop! O my! O my!” The motor car here is a force of chaotic, destructive energy that sunders the arcadian world of the river bank, and Mr. Toad, transfixed as he sits in the middle of the road watching the machine recede into the distance, stands for the point at which the human spirit is seduced by the folly of its own desires. The motor car changed their lives, and ours for ever.’ – Gerard Woodward, The Little Black Book.
***
Shepard on meeting Grahame to discuss the illustrations to 'The Wind in the Willows' :-
"Not sure about his new illustrator of his book, he listened patiently while I told him what I hoped to do. Then he said 'I love these little people, be kind to them'. Just that; but sitting forward in his chair, resting upon the arms, his fine handsome head turned aside, looking like some ancient Viking, warming, he told me of the river nearby, of the meadows where mole broke ground that spring morning, of the banks where Rat had his house, of the pool where Otter hid, and of Wild Wood way up on the hill above the river. ...He would like, he said, to go with me to show me the river bank that he knew so well, ‘...but now I cannot walk so far and you must find your way alone'."
Grahame passed away before the publication of this new edition with what have become the illustrations that are most loved and associated with 'The Wind in the Willows' .
***
Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was born in Edinburgh, but grew up with relatives in Berkshire where he developed his love for the countryside surrounding the upper parts of the River Thames. He was educated at St. Edward's in Oxford, but instead of going on to Oxford University he joined the Bank of England, where he rose to become Secretary. He wrote several books including The Golden Age and Dream Days which includes the short story The Reluctant Dragon (later made into a Disney movie). Grahame developed the character of Toad in The Wind in the Willows to amuse his young son, Alistair, and it was first published in 1908.
Provenance: Small gift inscription to front free endpaper dated Xmas 1931.
References: The Observer - All-Time 100 Best Novels [2003]. Modern Library - Top 100 Novels [1998]. BBC Big Read (200 Best Novels) [2003]. Book Collector No. 271, The Great Illustrators.
Octavo (book size 19.5x13.7cm), pp. [8] 312, 8 (Methuen’s Catalogue dated 10.31). In Publisher’s green cloth, titled in gilt to spine, and with gilt blocked illustrations of Mole, Rat, and Mr Toad to front panel, top edge tinted green, endpapers illustrated with maps. Condition: Near fine, light foxing to edges, endpapers and front and rear free endpapers, one or two finger marks to pages, in near fine cloth, minor rubbing to corners and spine ends, spine very slightly toned. Ref: 112073 Price: HK$ 4,500