1. The great Edwardian authors of kiddy litter were themselves generally
mid-Victorians. Did their writing reflect Edwardian sensibilities, their own
personal experiences (earlier) or the heightened intellectual 'futurism' of
the times (Fabians, Bloomsburians, et al) which would appeal to us, but not
necessarily reflect contemporary conditions?
2. How popular (comparatively) were the 'classic' children's books at the
time of original publication? Who was buying them?
3. How frequently did children appear in adult fiction of the time? Did the
images match those presented in children's literature?
4. Who were the best-selling/most popular authors? I fear that the books
which have become 'classics' may appeal precisely because they were
atypical and probably not truly representative. I am referring here to
content, not to literary value.
5. Whom should I look at? My current (very short) bibliography would include:
E. Nesbit (Railway Children, Five Children & It, etc)
E. H. Burnet (The Little Princess, The Secret Garden)
Kenneth Grahame (Wind in the Willows, Reluctant Dragon)
Kipling (Just So Stories, Kim, Jungle Book, Puck of Pook's Hill)
Beatrix Potter (Peter Rabbit)
J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)
Mrs. Molesworth (If I can find any)
Any suggestions would be appreciated, and/or any discussion on these or
related questions.
Thanks,
Bruce Retallack
111 Raglan Ave. # 803
Toronto, Ontario
M6C 2K9 CANADA
brucer@hookup.net
--