Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, but, following the death of his mother when he was only five years old, was brought up by his grandmother in Berkshire, England, UK. Grahame began writing as a means of escaping the drudgery of his job at the bank, and he soon began to have pieces published in journals. The Wind in the Willows began as a bedtime story for Grahame's son Alistair, nicknamed 'Mouse', and was further embellished by Grahame in letters to his son. The book was published in 1908 and eventually became a huge bestseller.