Kenneth Grahame

Born in Edinburgh in 1859, Kenneth Grahame became one of the most loved writers of children's literature. Although he is often linked with the quiet pleasures of riverbanks, woods, and country life, much of his working life was spent in London, where he built a career at the Bank of England.

Grahame first won readers with essay collections such as Pagan Papers and The Golden Age, followed by Dream Days, which included "The Reluctant Dragon." His most famous book, The Wind in the Willows (1908), grew out of stories he told for his son and went on to become an enduring classic.

He died in 1932, but his writing still feels fresh because it balances adventure, mischief, and tenderness so naturally. Generations of readers have returned to his work for its memorable characters, gentle wit, and deep affection for the natural world.