Kenneth Grahame

Kenneth Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but in early childhood, after being orphaned, moved to live with his grandmother on the banks of the River Thames in southern England. He was an outstanding pupil at St Edward's School in Oxford and wanted to attend Oxford University but was not allowed to do so by his guardian on grounds of cost. Instead he was sent to work at the Bank of England in 1879, and rose through the ranks until retiring as its Secretary in 1908 due to ill health. In addition to ill health, Grahame's retirement was precipitated in 1903 by a strange, possibly political, shooting incident at the bank. Grahame was shot at three times, all of them missed. Grahame's marriage to Elspeth Thomson was an unhappy one. They had only one child, a boy named Alastair, who was born blind in one eye and was plagued by health problems throughout his short life. Alastair eventually committed suicide on a railway track while an undergraduate at Oxford University, two days before his 20th birthday on 7 May, 1920. Out of respect for Kenneth Grahame, Alastair's demise was recorded as an accidental death. Kenneth Grahame died in Pangbourne, Berkshire in 1932.

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Featured Books, with extracts by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows - Illustrated Edition
Kenneth Grahame
Stunning is definitely the best word to describe this book that is bulging with superb illustrations that complement the moving story by Kenneth Grahame of Ratty, Moley and of course the irascible Toad.   It is part of the Walker Illustrated Classics,...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/01/2009
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The Wind In The Willows
Kenneth Grahame
This is a wonderful hardback edition (part of the Oxford Children's Classics Collection), perfect as a gift or to last and last when read and reread from the nursery bookshelf. With the complete and unabridged text, 100 years on this...
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/08/2008
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The Wind In The Willows (with an Introduction by Brian Jacques)
Kenneth Grahame
March 2010 Guest Editor Michael Foreman remembers: "One of our teachers, Oscar Outlaw, realised that most of the class had no books at home.  He started bringing in his own books and reading to us on Friday afternoons if it was...
Format: Paperback - Released: 28/02/2008
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The Reluctant Dragon
Kenneth Grahame
A touching classic story of a dragon who doesn’t want to do any of the frightening things dragons should do. Published in a handsome 70th anniversary edition with the original illustrations. The LoveReading Comment: This is a funny story of bravery, friendship...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/02/2008
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The Wind in the Willows (Illustrated by Robert Ingpen)
Kenneth Grahame
This timeless tale has never been out of print and remains one of the best loved children’s titles in English literature.  Grahame’s wonderful imagination and quiet humour continue to charm children and adults alike and this edition is beautifully complemented...
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2007
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