<P> In 1908 , Grahame retired from his position as secretary of the Bank of England . He moved back to Berkshire , where he had lived as a child , and spent his time by the River Thames doing much as the animal characters in his book do -- as the book says , `` simply messing about in boats '' -- and expanding the bedtime stories he had earlier told his son Alastair into a manuscript for the book . </P>
<P> In 1908 , Grahame retired from his position as secretary of the Bank of England . He moved back to Berkshire , where he had lived as a child , and spent his time by the River Thames doing much as the animal characters in his book do -- as the book says , `` simply messing about in boats '' -- and expanding the bedtime stories he had earlier told his son Alastair into a manuscript for the book . </P>
what river is in wind in the willows
what river is in wind in the willows
River Thames
River Thames