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正在检索... Science | Book | PN1009 .A1 A99 1994 | 1 | Stacks | 正在检索... 未知 | 正在检索... 不可借阅 |
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摘要
摘要
In Behold the Child, Gillian Avery offers an engaging account of children's literature in America from colonial times to the early twentieth century. Exploring a variety of social, cultural, and practical forces, Avery shows how the literature of the old world influenced that of the new and describes the emergence of uniquely American styles and themes in children's books. Her topics include the early days of colonial publishing, the defenders and detractors of Mother Goose, the influence of Sunday schools and tract societies, the "chaste eroticism" of romantic fiction for young readers, and changing notions of American heroes and heroines.
评论 (2)
《儿童读物杂志》(Horn Book)书评
Illustrated with reproductions. More than a chronology, although arranged by historical periods; more than a compendium of titles and authors, although it includes numerous citations not readily available, this unique resource will set standards for years to come. It is a true literary history, combining the best of two perspectives - the critic's and the cultural analyst's. From extensive perusal of primary sources and familiarity with pertinent scholarship, Avery has produced a monumental work that would seem daunting were it not for its felicitous diction, the logic of its structure, and the clarity of its premises. These last are the framework for the whole: comparison of English and American books for children; identification of primary themes in the development of a national literature for children; and analysis of the American "style." The introduction provides a stimulating overture as well as a clear statement of the rationale for selecting the periods to be covered - from colonial times to the publication of Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories in 1922. In between comes a provocative examination of dominant trends such as the significance of the family in Puritan days and its influence on the development of the domestic drama as seen in the writings of Louisa May Alcott. By comparing this genre, an American triumph, with the development of fantasy, so prominent in England, Avery not only illumines the differences between literary traditions but also offers a thoughtful examination of the two cultures. Particularly notable is her commentary on the significant roles played by women in American stories in contrast to their English counterparts. Examples include Marmee in Little Women, Mother Pepper in The Five Little Peppers, and redoubtable spinsters such as Aunt Miranda in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. And this is but a sampling of the richness of the whole. Carefully chosen period illustrations add to the impact. One wishes only that the format - double-column and small type - were a bit easier on the eyes. Bibliography and index. m.m.b. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Choice 评论
In Childhood's Patterns (1975), Avery chronicled English children's books and interpreted their underlying value systems. Here, she does much the same for books that American children read. By comparing American and British books, Avery traces "the development of an American style" up to the beginning of 20th century. The first two sections--on Puritanism and its attacks on the "sporting lies" of fiction, and on the rationalism of the 18th and early 19th centuries--are familiar. British books dominated American reading, and Avery and others have thoroughly disscussd them elsewhere. Avery does, however, provide an excellent account of Jacob Abbott's Rollo books. The third section, "Differing Ideals," is the liveliest. It contrasts American and British attitudes to home, domestic life, motherhood, girlhood, and boyhood. Here, Avery shows how boundless energy, optimism, and materialism dominated books for young people. Avery's history is not highly original in its observations, its organization by topic makes it repetitive in discussing prolific authors, and its catalog of publications is occasionally dry. Nevertheless, this well-illustrated comparative history is the best place to begin any study of children's books in America. All levels. R. E. Jones; University of Alberta