Children's literature is a remarkable area of writing and a growing area of study.
Its characters–Pooh Bear, the Wizard of Oz, the Famous Five, Peter Rabbit–are part of most people's psyche and have strong links to basic myth and archetypes. They arouse strong feelings, as demonstrated by recent debates over political correctness. An Introduction to Children's Literature combines a history of writing for children with an assessment of its literary, sociological, and pedagogical roles.
Fundamentally a history of British children's literature, Hunt's text identifies key characteristics of the genre, such as fantasy, nostalgia, nature images, a sense of place or territory, testing and incitation, and the need of warmth or security. This book provides a concise history of British children's literature, focusing particularly on the past 130 years.
It traces the evolution from moralising, 'improving' works to books which are more empathetic to the world of the child. Yet it also demonstrates that the history of children's literature can be approached from several different angles. With children's literature becoming a fiercely contested academic and ideological battleground, this balanced assessment of the terrain will be of value to anyone seeking a reliable introduction to the history and issues involved.

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Approaching Children's Literature History and Histories The Early History of Children's Literature Maturity, 1860-1920 The Long Weekend, 1920-1939 Equal terms: 1940 to the Present Uses and Abuses, Themes and Variations Conclusion: Stalking the Perfect Children's Book A Chronology of Children's Literature Notes Short Bibliography Index

Peter Hunt, Department of English Literature, University of Cardiff

'A very welcome, succinct and enjoyable introduction.' Jane Doonan, The School Librarian, 42(4) November 1994 |d 17/02/1995

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