The Life of Kenneth Grahame Trivia Quiz

Answer: March 8, 1859

He was born at 30 Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, the third of five children.

Answer: Edinburgh, Scotland

His family moved to Argyllshire in 1860, when his father was appointed Sheriff-Substitute.

Answer: successful advocate

His father was a successful advocate, which is what Americans call a trial lawyer, and the English, a barrister.

Answer: all of them

Grahame's mother died in 1864 of scarlet fever. His father, an alcoholic, could not cope. He sent the children to live with their grandmother in Cookham Dene, which is the chief setting of 'The Wind in the Willows'.

Answer: Anthony Hope

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins (1863-1934), wrote the wonderful novel, 'Prisoner Of Zenda' in 1894. H.G. Wells wrote 'War Of The Worlds', 'The Time Machine', and other works. Bram Stoker is best remembered for his tale of the Transylvanian Count 'Dracula'. I have read all these novels, and each of them is well worth reading.

Answer: 40

He was 40 when he married Elspeth Thompson in 1899. Their only child, a son named Alastair, was born the following year.

Answer: Bank of England

He joined the Bank of England as a "gentleman-clerk" in 1879 and rose to the position of Secretary to the Bank in 1898.

Answer: his son

Mouse asked his father to make up something about a rat, a mole, and a giraffe. The giraffe soon became a toad. When Mouse refused to go on vacation with his governess, because he didn't want to miss the stories, Grahame agreed to write down a new adventure each night and mail it to him. Mouse's governess was so impressed with the adventures, she saved the fifteen letters.

These letters were the basis of the novel.

Answer: False

It was at first rejected for pubication. When it was finally published, the Times of London said 'As a contribution to natural history the work is negligible'. The book sold poorly at first, and could not find an American publisher. President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a big fan of Grahame, was sent an autographed copy for his children.

When Grahame's agent was hunting an American publisher, Roosevelt sent a note to Scribners, 'The Wind in the Willows' is such a beautiful thing, Scribner must publish it'.

They did, and its popularity in America caused it to catch on in England.

Answer: His son was killed by a train.

Grahame's only child, Alastair, was killed by a train.

Answer: False

'The Willows In The Winter' (1993), 'Toad Triumphant' (1996), and 'The Willows And Beyond' (1998), were written by William Horwood. I have never read any of Horwood's trilogy. If you have, please let me know what you think of them. Thanks!

Answer: The Cambridge Book of Poetry for Children

This was his last literary effort. I made up the name 'Poems From Toad Hall', and the other two are literary classics in their own right, but in no way connected to Grahame, that I know of.

Answer: Italy

He spent much of the rest of his life in Italy.

Answer: July 6, 1932

He died in Pangbourne, Berkshire, on July 6, 1932.

Answer: Yes

Grahame set his novel, based on Mouse's stories, on the stretch of the Thames River from Caversham to Mapledurham. He wrote the novel at Pangbourne. The great house at Mapledurham was used by his illustrator, E.H. Shepherd, as a model for Toad Hall. An elaborate boat house, not far from Pangbourne, was the model for Rat's house. Thank you for taking my quiz.