Boek
Wind in the Willows, The
| Auteur | Kenneth Grahame |
| Eerste Uitgave | 2003 |
| Uitgave | 2003 |
| Uitgeverij | Wordsworth Classics |
| Vorm | jeugd |
| Taal | Engels |
| Bladzijden | 192 bladzijden |
| Gelezen | 2005-08-25 |
| Score | 9/10 |
Inhoud
If you ever feel like falling into a beautiful comic-book story--in the same way one falls back into a warm field of grass--reach for Michel Plessix's lush adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows. The artwork is an aquarelle, with thin, precise, detailed lines. It's no wonder he received numerous awards for his previous effort, Julien Boisvert, a contemporary take on the Tintin character type. In Wind in the Willows, Plessix breathes life into Mole, Rat, and Toad (of Toad Hall) as they picnic on the riverbank, indulge in Toad's latest fad, and get lost in Wild Wood. The pacing is masterful: each panel lingers just long enough to make you appreciate the simple pleasures of life.
Bespreking
A great classic fairytale
The classic adventure story of The Wind in the Willows is set in early twentieth-century Britain and features the lovable characters of the Water Rat, Mole, Toad, and Badger. Rat lives in the river bank and is totally fond of his little place. Mole lives underground and wants to see a lot more of the Big World. It's no surprise that Rat becomes his mentor and best friend. Both animals do have one constant worry: Toad. Toad, who owns Toad Hall, the biggest building in the neighbourhood, is extremely rich and conceited. But both friends know that beneath his vain façade, Toad means well. But all their effort in vain, Toad gets in a big mess when he buys an automobile. Mole does not know what he can still do to avoid Toad killing himself and others, so he calls in the help of the intelligent and respected Badger, who lives in the Wild Wood.
The major theme of this classic story is the struggle between the noisy, common way of life of the Wild Wooders, like the stoats and the weasels, and the quiet and genteel River-Bankers. Toad is a lovable rebel who does not fit well into either camp. With this setting Kenneth Grahame delivers a lovable and enjoyable fairytale for the younger readers, but has not neglected to fill the story with enough witty sidetracks to address a much wider audience. It is not without reason that this book was voted one of the best children's books ever.
The Wind in the Willows started as a series of stories shared by Grahame in letters to his only child, Alastair, born in 1899. It took until 1908 before these stories were first published. After almost more than one-hundred years this book still manages to capture its own place in the hearts of thousands of people. The Wind in the Willows is simply a must read for everyone who is still young at heart.