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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 1
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No. Kenneth Grahame's original title was planned to be "The Wind in the Reeds", but another book with that title already existed and "The Wind in the Willows" was a substitute which was chosen from several others that were proposed. (Interestingly, one of Grahame's own proposals was "Mr Mole and his Mates" which gives an indication of which character he regarded as the focal character.) Whether "The Wind in the Willows" or "The Wind in the Reeds", it would seem as if Grahame had a sub-theme of calls and influences attached to the title. Consider, for instance, Mole's response to "Spring in the air...spirit of divine discontent and longing" in the first chapter. It continues with other calls to adventure, calls home, calls to the south in Wayfarers All, and much more. The theme is elaboratly discussed by Lesley Willis in an article in Children's Literature Association Quarterly vol 13 No 3. I fear at this stage, though, that I'm probably heaping more information on you than you really wanted!
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