The River Bank: A sequel to Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows

Johnson, in her Author’s Note says this book is "an imperfect attempt to open up the world of … [Kenneth Grahame’s, 'The Wind in the Willows'] , and "avoid some of its "entrenched assumptions about privilege, class, and gender." The book succeeds in this, and at the same time reads to my ear as if it were written by Grahame himself, if he had written in a more inclusive way.

The story is greatly enhanced by Kathleen Jennings' clever, precise but dreamy, drawings of the characters, landscapes, and the river.

There are still class distinctions, some animals wear clothing and interact with humans. Sheep and cows are just animals. Moles, water rats and others are gentle, and live in houses. Others, like stoats and foxes are still show more villains and mostly live in the Wild Woods.

There is still much messing around in boats, and Toad is up to his usual misadventures.

Grahame’s females were only minor or incidental to his story, but Johnson introduces Beryl Mole, a writer, and her friend the Rabbit, who share a cottage near the river. They each, in their own ways, are the characters who solve problems and control the flow of this book, which is all to the better.

Pan, who appeared briefly, but to great effect, in only one chapter of 'Wind in the Willows', shows up again, this time to Beryl, in Johnson's book.

I missed 'Wind in the Willows' in childhood, read it as an adult, loved it then, and now like 'The River Bank' even more.
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The subtitle to Kij Johnson’s "The River Bank" is “A sequel to The Wind in the Willows,” and that’s just what it is. Taking place the summer after the events in that classic, we again encounter Mole, Water Rat, Badger, Otter and, of course, Toad of Toad Hall, who is up to his usual shenanigans. Newcomers to the neighbourhood are Beryl (a female Mole and an Authoress) and her companion, a young Rabbit; initially the objects of suspicion from the old inhabitants, they slowly are integrated into the world of the River Bank…. Whether one would like this book depends largely on his or her relationship to the original; me, I loved it. I think Ms. Johnson did a great job of continuing Kenneth Grahame’s story in a voice similar to show more his, while at the same time updating the attitudes described in the earlier book. Recommended! show less