Mr. Toad

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mr. Toad
E.H. Shepard
First appearanceThe Wind in the Willows
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Created byKenneth Grahame
Portrayed byPeter Harryson (stage adaptation)
Voiced byEric Blore (1949 film)
David Jason (1983 film, 1984 TV series)
Charles Nelson Reilly (1987 film)
Rik Mayall (1995 film, 1996 sequel)
In-universe information
SpeciesToad
GenderMale
OccupationThe Squire of Toad Hall
NationalityEnglish

Mr. Toad, of Toad Hall, is one of the main characters in the 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Mr. Toad's wayward mischievousness and boastfulness was Kenneth Grahame's only child Alastair: a family friend, Constance Smedley, overheard Grahame telling Alastair the exploits of Toad as a bedtime story, and noted that "Alastair's own tendency to exult in his exploits was gently satirized in Mr. Toad".[1] Colonel Francis Cecil Ricardo (1852–1924), the first owner of a car in Cookham in Berkshire, where Grahame wrote the books is also thought to have been an influence. Other suggestions include Walter Cunliffe, 1st Baron Cunliffe.[2]

Character

Toad is the squire of the English countryside estate Toad Hall, which he inherited from his family. Toad is a jovial and friendly figure but he is often ruled by his conceit and impulsiveness which often gets him into trouble. Toad is known for growing obsessed with various activities and then eventually growing bored of them. In the novel Toad becomes obsessed with motor cars after one runs him and his friends off the road in his caravan. Toad is a passionate driver and crashes at least eight motor cars before his friends step in and encourage him to change his ways. [3]

In other works

A. A. Milne's 1929 play Toad of Toad Hall was based on the book.[citation needed] William Horwood wrote several children's novels, Tales of the Willows, continuing the original story.[4]

Portrayals

References

  1. ISBN 9780810872592
    .
  2. ^ Johnson, Andrew (22 October 2011). "Is this the real Mr Toad?". The Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ISSN 0146-9339
    .
  4. ISBN 978-0-7864-5721-2
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-7864-6047-2
    .
  6. ^ a b c Duck, Siobhan (19 December 2007). "Willow talk". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 March 2024 – via ProQuest.
  7. ISBN 978-0-19-533533-0
    .
  8. ^ Castle, Jill (9 June 2014). "In Pictures: Rik Mayall, a career in comedy". The Herald. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  9. ^ Panas, Dan (15 June 1998). "Aftonbladet nöje: Sista kvällen som padda". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  10. ^ https://playbill.com/production/wind-in-the-willows-nederlander-theatre-vault-0000002716
  11. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jun/29/the-wind-in-the-willows-review-julian-fellowes-rufus-hound-stiles-and-drewe
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mr._Toad&oldid=1220672309"