The Wind in the Willows - Illustrated by Arthur Rackham - Softcover

Grahame, Kenneth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1473319277 ISBN 13: 9781473319271

Publisher: Pook Press, 2014

Synopsis

‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a true classic of Children’s literature. It was penned by Kenneth Grahame (1859 – 1932) and first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a traditional bucolic version of the English Thames valley. ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a novel notable for its adventure, mysticism, morality and unceasing camaraderie; loved and appreciated more than a century after its initial publication.

This text contains an introduction by A. A. Milne, the famed author of ‘Whinnie the Pooh’ and various other Children’s poems. It is also accompanied by a series of dazzling colour illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). One of the most celebrated painters of the British Golden Age of Illustration (which encompassed the years from 1850 until the start of the First World War), Rackham’s artistry is quite simply, unparalleled. Throughout his career, he developed a unique stule, combining haunting humour with dream-like romance. Presented alongside the text of ‘Wind in the Willows’, his illustrations further refine and elucidate Grahame’s masterful storytelling.

Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.

About this title

About the Author:

Kenneth Grahame (1859–1932) was inspired to write The Wind in the Willows based on bedtime stories he had been telling his young son, Alastair. The book was published in 1908 to instant acclaim.

David Roberts is the author-illustrator of the Bertie Books and the illustrator of many books for children, including Paul Fleischman’s The Dunderheads, which was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal; its sequel The Dunderheads Behind Bars, also by Paul Fleischman; and The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong. David Roberts lives in London.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 1–4—Grahame's early-20th-century classic is enhanced by lovely watercolor illustrations that provide a contemporary and packed-with-charisma accompaniment. The anthropomorphized characters, all fashionably turned out in Edwardian costume, are vivified with expressive facial features and twinkling eyes. Detailed settings range from Ratty's cozy and colorfully decorated waterside home to the elegant grandeur of Toad Hall to Mole's understated tunnel-shaped abode. The beautifully composed outdoor scenes sparkle with season-appropriate hues: a springtime rowing jaunt down a sunlit river is framed by trailing willow trees, and a wintertime excursion into the Wild Wood is evoked with lavender skies, intertwined tree barks in swirling grays, and an overlay of heavy white snowflakes. In addition to the geometric drawings that embellish each chapter title, designs made from bold shapes and bright constrasting colors appear throughout, adding an Art Deco flair. Ranging from small vignettes to full-bleed double pages, the artwork embellishes almost every spread, engaging independent readers and reeling in younger listeners with entertaining antics, gentle humor, and genial affection.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Pook Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1473319277
• ISBN 13: 9781473319271
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 227
• Illustrator: Rackham Arthur