The wind in the willows

This book is supposed to be hugely influential on later fantasy literature [citation needed]. For me I think it would have worked better if the characters belonged to some completely fictional species like elves, dwarves, etc... instead of animals that I know a little about. I kept being jarred out of my suspension of disbelief by the characters behaving like small Englishmen (yes, definitely men) in fursuits.

On the plus side the main characters are quite charming, and the portrait of the various friendships between them is touching and even illuminating at points.