LowFive
05-24-2005, 06:07 PM
The Wind in the willows is my favorite book, not because it is a "wholesome children's story" but because it is a story a depressed father relates to his son on the harshness of life. The world outside the riverbank is a scary place... the wild wood. The whole work has a darker side under the cute animal exterior. It is truly a brilliant piece of art that deals with the cold realities of life. Toad is obviously symbolizes either kenneth grahame's personal chemical dependency issues or those of his family members. <br> Grahame's life of dealing with alcoholism starting with his alcoholic parents really comes through in the story, you know the whole intervention with toad and the "cars". Grahame's family was truly one with serious problems and after reading this it is no wonder that the son whom he wrote the book for killed himself. God I love this book