Citation

McBride AJ. Addiction Research 2000; 8(2): 129-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/16066350009004416

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In writing the popular Edwardian children's book The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Gra-hame invented Toad, whose tale of obdurate delinquency is well known. This paper considers the way in which Toad's adventures can be read as an embodiment of late twentieth century ideas of dependence. Toad's seemingly compulsive reckless driving, car theft, related problems and his friends' "treatment" of him are described. Kenneth Grahame's personal experience of his father's addiction to alcohol is outlined. Toad's fictional conduct is considered against the background of the research literatures on the psychopathology of car theft and addiction itself.

Language: en

Keywords

Car Crime; Dependence Syndrome; History of Addiction; Kenneth Grahame; Technological Addiction; Toad