Originally published in 1908 as a book for children, The Wind in the Willowsremains popular with readers of all ages, telling the story of four anthropomorphized animals: Mole, Rate, Toad (immortalized as Mr. Toad in later adaptations), and Badger, all living in an idealized pastoral Edwardian England.

More than a century after its original publication, The Wind in the Willows remains one of the most popular stories, respected both as a beloved children's book but also as legitimate literature -- often included in lists of the "best" or "most important" English language works of the 20th century -- and is the subject to frequent adaptations for stage and screen.

The characters featured in The Wind in the Willows, especially Mr. Toad, remain among the most beloved in British literature.

Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was a British author, most famous for his masterpiece children's novel The Wind in the Willows, considered to be one of the definitive classics of children's literature, as well as the story The Reluctant Dragon.

Grahame's work has been the subject of frequent stage and screen adaptations.