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Kennet GramBritish writer, whose book “The Wind in the Willows,” written in 1908, brought worldwide fame.
Date of Birth: 08.03.1859
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Kenneth Grahame: Biography
Kenneth Grahame was a British writer who gained worldwide fame for his book "The Wind in the Willows," written in 1908. He was born on March 8, 1859, in Edinburgh. When he was five years old, his mother died of scarlet fever, and three years later, his alcoholic father left for France, leaving Kenneth and his two siblings under the care of relatives. Kenneth was taken in by his grandmother, who lived in Berkshire on the banks of the Thames.
Early Life and Career
While attending St. Edward's School in Oxford, Kenneth showed great potential and planned to attend the University of Oxford. However, his uncle, who was his guardian, could not afford his education. Instead, in 1879, Kenneth joined the Bank of England, where he worked until 1907. From 1880, he started writing essays, some of which were published in 1893 in his book "Pagan Papers." He also published his stories in the "National Observer" magazine, mostly reminiscences of his childhood, which later formed the basis of the books "The Golden Age" (1895) and "Dream Days" (1898). The collection "Dream Days" also included the novella "The Reluctant Dragon," which was adapted into an animated film by The Walt Disney Company in 1941.
Personal Life and Tragedy
In 1895, Kenneth married Elspeth Thomson, but their marriage was not a happy one. His only child, a son named Alastair, who was weak and blind in one eye, played a significant role in the writer's life. It was for his son that Kenneth Grahame began composing and recording stories about Mr. Toad, which formed the basis of the book "The Wind in the Willows." The manuscript of this book was rejected by American publishers but was published in England in 1908, bringing the author widespread recognition. However, despite his success, Grahame almost completely stopped writing.
A devastating blow came when his son committed suicide by throwing himself under a train, just two days before his 20th birthday. Out of respect for the writer, his son's death was officially classified as an accident. Kenneth Grahame passed away on July 6, 1932, and was buried in Holywell Cemetery in Oxford.
Legacy
For a long time, Kenneth Grahame's work remained unknown to the wider public in Russia. It wasn't until 1988, 80 years after its initial publication, that "The Wind in the Willows" was translated by Irina Tokmakova and released in Russian.
