The Real-Life Inspiration Behind “Mr. Toad”

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There's also

The Tradgedy of Mr. Toad of Toad Hall [2008] - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1062869/The-trage...

(via https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11975920 but no comments there)

Another comparison of real life and literary figures would be Harold Skimpole, in "Bleak House" by Dickens, who is a riff on Leigh Hunt, and apparently a very good take-off. I would think Leigh Hunt was mortified. Dickens is on record denying it, and said (after Hunts death) he even showed him the page proofs.

(Skimpole shares some of Mr Toads distain for the real world and its cumbersome rules)

Dawn Powell spent years denying--sincerely--that the anti-heroine of one of her novels was modeled on Clare Booth Luce. At some point though, going back through her journals, she found a note something like "Why not write a novel about Clare Booth Luce?"

Two more books to read: Dawn Powell's fictional portrayal, and a biography of Clare Booth Luce! Thanks!

You're welcome. I see from the Library of America website that the novel is A Time To Be Born.

I was so terrified by Mr Toad and his attitude as a little kid that I never finished the book. But I’ve never forgotten that feeling.

Yes! Well not the book, but the 1995 made-for-TV animated movie. Every so often it pops up in my memory. I remember feeling distressed at Mr. Toad but could never explain it.

The wonderful Rik Mayall.

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