|
 ne of my favourite books as a child, but one with a somewhat less than happy back-story. It was written by Kenneth Grahame and published in 1908 after being rejected by several publishers. It was initially not well received by critics but went on to become a bestseller, and the single work that Grahame is most known for.
 ronically, this book and the stories within, has brought comfort and happiness to millions of children since it was published, and yet it was written as an escape from a cold and failing marriage, and from Grahame's parental guilt stemming from his inability to provide comfort for his own child, Alistair, who was born prematurely with a congenital cataract making him blind in one eye.
 rahame initially doted on his child, but he and his wife also spent long periods of time separated from him, and Alistair was sent off to a number of different boarding schools. They would write to each other, and Alistair would often plead for his parents to visit him, but Grahame would reply only with new stories of Toad's misadventures, ignoring the emotional pleas of his son.
 listair spent time at a number of prestigious schools - he was unable to fit in with other boys his own age at Rugby and he also attended Eton where he had a nervous breakdown. In January 1918, he went up to Christ Church, Oxford, after Grahame used his contacts to secure him a place. It was at Oxford in 1920 that Alistair, miserably alone, lay himself down on a railway track after dinner, and was decapitated by a train.
 his geocache shouldn't be too difficult to find, but it will involve a bit of a stretch, in an area that is in itself a little reminiscent of a scene from The Wind in the Willows. Be careful not to hurt yourself and try not to drop anything. BYO pen. Good luck and happy caching!
|