Kenneth Grahame

British novelist, born in Scotland, active in the Victorian and Edwardian eras

3 quotes in the MindQuotes library.

About

Kenneth Grahame was a British writer born in Edinburgh in 1859. After a childhood marked by his mother's death, he was raised by his grandmother in Berkshire. Employed at the Bank of England, he became its Secretary in 1898. He published essays and story collections, but his fame rests on 'The Wind in the Willows' (1908), inspired by stories told to his son. Initially rejected by several publishers, the work became a classic of children's literature. After the tragic death of his son in 1920, he withdrew from public life and died in 1932.

* 1859-03-08 — † 1932-07-06

Major works

Pagan Papers (1893)essays
The Golden Age (1895)short story collection
Dream Days (1898)short story collection
The Wind in the Willows (1908)children's novel

Key milestones

1898Becomes Secretary of the Bank of England.
1903Survives an assassination attempt at the Bank of England.
1908Publishes 'The Wind in the Willows'.

Themes

nostalgia for childhoodnature and the English landscapefriendship and loyaltyadventure and escapecritique of modernity

Sources: webarchive.nrscotland.gov.uk · britishlibrary.cn · wwwtest.bankofengland.co.uk

“The mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home.”

— Kenneth GrahameTheme · Literature

Create visual

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

— Kenneth GrahameTheme · Wisdom

Create visual

“Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.”

— Kenneth GrahameTheme · Nature

Create visual