8 March 1859-6 July 1932

Scottish author and banker.

Grahame was a contemporary of Oscar Wilde and a successful author from the 1890s, publishing stories in literary magazines that went on to be collected in Dream Days (1895) and The Golden Age (1898). He also contributed to the respected literary journal The Yellow Book.

Today Grahame is intrinsically identified with his 1908 work, The Wind in the Willows, which has spawned numerous film, television and stage adaptations in addition to being published in multiple formats including as a graphic novel and a poetic translation.

The bedtime stories Grahame told to his son, Alastair, were the inspiration for what has become a classic childhood tale still in print and a best seller more than a hundred years later.

“One can argue over the merits of most books, and in arguing understand the point of view of one’s opponent. One may even come to the conclusion that possibly he is right after all. One does not argue about The Wind in the Willows. The young man gives it to the girl with whom he is in love, and if she does not like it, asks her to return his letters. The older man tries it on his nephew, and alters his will accordingly. The book is a test of character. We can’t criticise it, because it is criticising us. It is a Household Book; a book which everybody in the household loves, and quotes continually; a book which is read aloud to every guest and is regarded as the touchstone of his worth. But I must give you one word of warning. When you sit down to it, don’t be so ridiculous as to suppose that you are sitting in judgement of my taste, or on the art of Kenneth Grahame. You are merely sitting in judgement on yourself. You may be worthy: I don’t know. But it is you who are on trial.” A.A. Milne, Introduction to 1994 edition illustrated by Patrick Benson and published by Harper Collins Publishers.

Image Credit
Kenneth Grahame Cutout Card by Rhiannon Izard.