The Golden Age

My copy of this book is the 1993 hardcover from Ten Speed Press with art by Maxfiled Parrish. It is an exact copy of the 1900 edition, which I could never afford. The art by Maxfield is stunning, and of course the book itself is a treat no matter whose artwork is in it. The author knows how to rleocate in each of us, the child we once were. Adter all, he also gave us "Dream Days", and "The Wind In The Willows". You can't go wrong with this book.

Kenneth Grahame's rich, elegant writing make "The Golden Age" a joy to read and reread. While it is a story of children in late Victorian England, it is not a childish book. Rather, it is an examination of how children view the world and are confounded by the actions of the adults around them. Grahame had a wonderful knack for presenting the child's point of view without being cutesy or condescending - no other author has as successfully done this. Nor does he present the typical Victorian view that children are all little angels and always innocent. All adults should read this book - it makes one stop and examine one's priorities and will encourage you recapture a zest for life and imagination.