The Literature Network - LOST IN the wild wood LITERATURE 'THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS' IS A HYMN TO OLD ENGLAND. BUT FOR ITS AUTHOR, IT MEANT MUCH MORE THAN THAT. A HUNDRED YEARS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION, JOHN PRESTON EXPLORES THE PRIVATE TORMENTS THAT INSPIRED KENNETH GRAHAME

LOST IN the wild wood LITERATURE 'THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS' IS A HYMN TO OLD ENGLAND. BUT FOR ITS AUTHOR, IT MEANT MUCH MORE THAN THAT. A HUNDRED YEARS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION, JOHN PRESTON EXPLORES THE PRIVATE TORMENTS THAT INSPIRED KENNETH GRAHAME

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From: The Sunday Telegraph London
Date: 20080210
Author:JOHN PRESTON

AT AROUND 11 O'CLOCK ON THE MORNING of 24 November, 1903, a man called George Robinson, who in newspaper accounts of what followed would be referred to simply as 'a Socialist Lunatic', arrived at the Bank of England. There, Robinson asked to speak to the governor, Sir Augustus Prevost. Since Prevost had retired several years earlier, he was asked if he would like to see the bank secretary, Kenneth Grahame, instead.

When Grahame appeared, Robinson walked towards him, holding out a rolled up manuscript. It was tied at one end with a white ribbon and at the other, with a black one. He asked ...

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LOST IN the wild wood LITERATURE 'THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS' IS A HYMN TO OLD ENGLAND. BUT FOR ITS AUTHOR, IT MEANT MUCH MORE THAN THAT. A HUNDRED YEARS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION, JOHN PRESTON EXPLORES THE PRIVATE TORMENTS THAT INSPIRED KENNETH GRAHAME

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