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The Art of The Wind in the Willows

Afternoon Lecture

19 June 2025 at 13:30:00

Moor Park Mansion, Rickmansworth

Booking closes
12 June 2025
The Wind in the Willows Original Front Cover Illustration 1908

The Wind in the Willows Original Front Cover Illustration 1908


Lecture begins at 2.30 PM

Afternoon Tea (optional) at 4.00 PM


The beauty of Kenneth Grahame’s prose in The Wind in the Willows is widely acknowledged and the story is so full of wonderful imagery that it almost demands to be illustrated. But - remarkably - when first published in 1908 the book had no illustrations.


Our afternoon lecture today will revisit the story of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger through the eyes of some of the more than NINETY artists who have illustrated this much loved book, such as the great E H Shepard, Arthur Rackham and Val Biro. Where appropriate, John will compare and contrast the same scene as depicted by different artists.


Willows’ is notable for its mixture of adventure, camaraderie, morality and mysticism. It is however a far more thought provoking and interesting book than its popular and often young audience might appreciate. It deserves recognition as a novel in which adult readers will find not just humour and entertainment, but also wisdom and meaning. Intriguingly, academics continue to argue as to whether it is a book for children or for adults – a theme John will expand upon.


In so doing he will also explore how the story came to be written for Grahame’s son Alastair and the interesting but ultimately tragic life of Kenneth Grahame.


Our Speaker

John Ericson

John Ericson

John Ericson

Our Speaker John Ericson was formerly a lecturer at the University of Bath, where he was Director of Studies in the School of Education with responsibility for the professional development of teachers. He has worked extensively overseas as an educational consultant and this has given him the opportunity to give lectures and presentations at conferences all over the world. Over the last decade he has been a popular speaker on the Arts Society circuit in the UK and Europe, as well as a frequent visitor to the societies in Australia and New Zealand.


In his professional life he has developed a particular interest in presentation skills including the role of pictures in learning and the appropriate use of PowerPoint. This coupled with his ability to relate well to people of all ages and backgrounds makes him an impressive and confident public speaker.


As well as the talks he has developed from his professional background, he offers presentations on an eclectic range of topics that are derived from his diverse interests and enthusiasms, such as Art Inspired by Wine, Visual Illusions in Art and The Shakers of North America.

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  © 2025 by The Arts Society Moor Park. All rights reserved.

Moor Park Mansion

Rickmansworth Hertfordshire WD3 1QN

  The Arts Society Moor Park is the operating name of Moor Park Decorative & Fine Arts Society

Registered Charity (England & Wales): 1111942

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