Wind in the Willows

I love English literature and Wind in the Willows is one of my favorite. I wasn't expecting much when I read this book, but it pleasantly surprised me.

I didn't really care for the character of Toad, and all his immature antics; however, I was duly pleased with the sublime passages detailing the beautiful English countryside and the quiet life these animals had carved out for themselves.

About the book:
The book takes place in the English countryside at the turn of the century. It was published in 1908, just about the time the motorcar was making its scene in the world, before WW2 had started, and the ending of the aristocratic caste in the Western world.

The story follows the life of a water rat, a toad, a mole, and a badger. And they are all very good friends. The story is broken up along their different lives and how their lives intertwine with each other.

The wind in the willows is the music the Water Rat hears all through the country.

"with his ear to the reed-stems he caught, at intervals, something of what the wind went whispering so constantly among them."

'I hear nothing myself,' he said, 'but the wind playing in the reeds and rushes and osiers.'

He is a poetic rat that writes his own lines, and enjoys the river immensely, along with his own house and his provisions. It is hard to describe the enchanting scene that the author writes, but it is wonderful.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

"The Badger's winter stores, which indeed were visible everywhere, took up half the room—piles of apples, turnips, and potatoes, baskets full of nuts, and jars of honey" 

"eating oatmeal porridge out of wooden bowls." 

"broad meadows, and cattle browsing in them, raked by sun and wind; of kitchen-gardens, and straight herb-borders, and warm snap-dragon beset by bees; and of the comforting clink of dishes set down on the table at Toad Hall" 

"The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings, when one's ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender; of the purring of contented cats, and the twitter of sleepy canaries.' 

"we shall be home-sick once more for quiet water-lilies swaying on the surface of an English stream." 

"Why, sometimes I dream of the shell-fish of Marseilles, and wake up crying!" 

"he took care to include a yard of long French bread, a sausage out of which the garlic sang, some cheese which lay down and cried, and a long-necked straw-covered flask wherein lay bottled sunshine shed and garnered on far Southern slopes"

"Much of the book was about letting go of ambition and enjoying what was already there."
"It is a goodly life that you lead, friend; no doubt the best in the world, if only you are strong enough to lead it!" 

"I had everything I could want—everything I had any right to expect of life, and more"

What I didn't much care for was the aristocratic life of the Toad and his immature love of motorcars. I've seen enough love for motorcars in my life from those in my current culture, and find it all to be a bit silly. The story really shows you the English life, with commoners and aristocrats. Toad being of the latter variety. 

"You common, low, FAT barge-woman!' he shouted; 'don't you dare to talk to your betters like that! Washerwoman indeed! I would have you to know that I am a Toad, a very well-known, respected, distinguished Toad! I may be under a bit of a cloud at present, but I will NOT be laughed at by a bargewoman!"

"Stuff and nonsense!' said Toad, very angrily. 'What do you mean by talking like that to me? Come out of that at once"

The maturity of Toad and his friends that go the extra mile for him is endearing. But I would much rather read the intimate experiences of the Water Rat and his subtle joys of his life along the river.