Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #410067 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-21
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 289 pages

Amazon.com
William Horwood, author of two other bestselling "sequels" to Kenneth Grahame's beloved classic, The Wind in the Willows (The Willows in Winter and Toad Triumphant), picks up where Grahame left off, with nary a misstep. The flavor and tone of his thrilling story, along with Patrick Benson's marvelous crosshatched illustrations, have done the impossible: brought Grahame's characters back to life. Like a river, time moves inexorably forward. Ratty, Mole, Otter, Toad, and Badger are growing older. They are content to live out their lives on the River Bank in peaceful reflection--until, that is, one of those mysterious eddies of life picks them up and spins them around. It all starts when Rat, while "communing" with the River, senses that something is terribly wrong. Soon after, a mysterious summons to collect an item from the post office arrives. From there, the adventures gather speed. Whether fighting off the horrible Beast of the Iron Bridge, rescuing Rat from a near-fatal bout with indigestion, or trying to save the Wild Wood from impending, polluting Progress, the friends have no time to slip quietly into old age. Even so, each animal must begin to prepare for the next generation. (All ages, 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Review
"With its humor, tenderness, suspense, and happy ending...[Toad Triumphant is] a pleasant story and a good read." --The Christian Science Monitor

"The old characters pop back to life as you begin reading." --The New York Times

"Faithful to the original...Festive...A winsome winner." --Chicago Tribune

"The Willows in Winter transports us back to the familiar rivery world almost as authoritatively-and entertainingly-as a sequel by Grahame himself." --The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Patrick Benson's crosshatched illustrations seem to have been lovingly guided by the hand of Ernest Shepard, whose 1931 drawings of The Wind in the Willows continue to transport young readers to meadow, riverbank, and wild wood." --The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

Review
"With its humor, tenderness, suspense, and happy ending...[Toad Triumphant is] a pleasant story and a good read." --The Christian Science Monitor

"The old characters pop back to life as you begin reading." --The New York Times

"Faithful to the original...Festive...A winsome winner." --Chicago Tribune

"The Willows in Winter transports us back to the familiar rivery world almost as authoritatively-and entertainingly-as a sequel by Grahame himself." --The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Patrick Benson's crosshatched illustrations seem to have been lovingly guided by the hand of Ernest Shepard, whose 1931 drawings of The Wind in the Willows continue to transport young readers to meadow, riverbank, and wild wood." --The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

Customer Reviews

His other books are much better
I bought this book because I was so very impressed with the Willows in Winter and the way Horwood carried on in the vein of Graham, but this book - well, I read it outloud to the family and we all burst out crying in the end. There was no reason whatsoever to end what has been a lifelong fantasy for some. I have to put it on the very bottom of Horwood's work.

Charming story and illustrations
I purchased this book for my elderly mother whose favorite book is Wind in the Willows. She is equally charmed by William Horwood's books as they continue the adventures of Mr Toad and his stalwart woodland friends. Horwood writes in a style that seamlessly complements Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows. Patrick Benson's illustrations are lovely and they add details and charm to the story as it moves along. All in all, we were both very happy with The Willows and Beyond as well as the other Horwood/Benson "Willows" books. If you love Wind in the Willows, you will certainly be a fan of William Horwood's "Willows" books.

I thought it was fantastic!!!
I've read the whole Willows series written by Mr. Horwood and I have to say each one was exceptional. This book in particular is the last book of his series, the final chapters in the lives of these wonderful creatures. Mr. Horwood has written his books in a manner that enthralls children and adults alike, and although not nearly as popular, I'd rate this series up there on the level of the Harry Potter books.