The Wind in the Willows


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 217 reviews)

This much-loved story follows a group of animal friends in the English countryside as they pursue adventure … and as adventure pursues them! The chief characters - Mole, Rat, and Toad - generally lead upbeat and happy lives, but their tales are leavened with moments of terror, homesickness, awe, madcap antics, and derring-do.

Although classed as children’s literature, The Wind in the Willows holds a gentle fascination for adults too. The vocabulary is decidedly not “Dick and Jane”, and a reader with a love of words will find new ones to treasure, even if well-equipped for the journey. Parents will appreciate the themes of loyalty, manners, self-restraint, and comradeship which are evident throughout the book. When the characters err, they are prompt to acknowledge it, and so a reading of this book can model good behavior to children, who will otherwise be enchanted with the many ways in which the lives of these bucolic characters differ from modern life.

This book was so successful that it enabled the author to retire from banking and take up a country life somewhat like that of his creations. It has been adapted for screen, stage, and even a ride at the original Disneyland.
(Summary by Mark F. Smith) (6 hr 30 min)

Chapters

The River Bank 27:12 Read by Peter Yearsley
The Open Road 29:04 Read by Meredith Hughes
The Wild Wood 32:00 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
Mr. Badger 30:12 Read by Betsie Bush
Dulce Dolmum 35:54 Read by Peter Yearsley
Mr. Toad 27:52 Read by Vinny Bove
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn 27:50 Read by Chip
Toad's Adventures 41:03 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Wayfarers All 41:03 Read by Peter Eastman
The Further Adventures of Toad 33:41 Read by Kymm Zuckert
'Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears' 28:59 Read by Kirsten Ferreri
The Return of Ulysses 34:53 Read by Catharine Eastman

Reviews

Good Reader


(4 stars)

i enjoy good reading... reader sounds very nice. Doesn't sound like he is reading, sounds like he is telling a story.

A jolly time


(5 stars)

Excellent readers, great voices, what more can I say, LISTEN TO IT! Fall in love with a classic again!

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(5 stars)

Great job! 5 star for everyone!!!cute story I really enjoyed it.

glorious story, beautifully read


(5 stars)

You don't have to listen to many librivox recordings to figure out that some of the readers are just much better than others. These readers all do a good job. Some do the voices, and at least two sing, with one even playing the piano! Great fun to listen to. Thank you, readers, for taking the time. And thank you for a job well done. The book itself is wonderful, and has survived the test of time for good reason. Toad, of course, is my favorite of the characters, and had me rolling on the floor laughing.


(5 stars)

Hilarious and delightful! Would that I had friends like Ratty, Mollie and the rest of the animals that were portrayed. The story was told in great detail of nature and you really felt like you were there. The narrator's were spectacular (some more than others) and I don't know if this is specifically a children's book but as an adult, I enjoyed it immensely.

Awesome!


(5 stars)

All the readers were great and the story was great too. That last reader though wow! Usually when a reader tries to sing a song I'm like " Ugh! Please no! My poor ears 😣" That reader though who read the last chapter and Sang that song even with music just wow! Bravo Miss! Bravo!

Best Book Ever!


(5 stars)

A very wholesome story, when Toad finally got back to Toad Hall He finally stopped his addiction of motorcars. he and his friends lived a very happy life after that, I really enjoyed the book. Thanks for everyone who volunteered to create the audio recordings for this book I really enjoyed it.

quick


(5 stars)

added diff such as su so do too many e in a row of a lot to be a row in a lot to get in a row of e and e in a lot to be in the house in the past few weeks so do not ea it see but it was