Home
  • Home
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Authors & Artists
  • Articles
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Forums
  • Search

Children’s Literature and Social Change. Some Case Studies from Barbara Hofland to Philip Pullman

  • View
  • Rearrange

Digital version – browse, print or download

Can't see the preview?
Click here!

How to print the digital edition of Books for Keeps: click on this PDF file link - click on the printer icon in the top right of the screen to print.

BfK Newsletter

Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!

BfK No. 184 - September 2010
BfK 184 September 2010

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from Nick Sharrat’s One Fluffy Baa-Lamb, Ten Hairy Caterpillars. Nick Sharratt is interviewed by Joanna Carey. Thanks to Alison Green Books for their help with this September cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 184 September 2010.

  • PDFPDF
  • Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version
  • Send to friendSend to friend

Children's Literature and Social Change

Dennis Butts
(The Lutterworth Press)
210pp, 978-0718892081, RRP £26.25, Paperback
Books About Children's Books
Buy "Children's Literature and Social Change: Some Case Studies from Barbara Hofland to Philip Pullman" on Amazon

Dennis Butts has been writing about children’s literature for many years, and this present book brings together some of his occasional pieces now woven into a chronological order. He is particularly interesting on the vogue for flying stories, and also writes well about the nineteenth century, pointing out that the technological developments occurring around 1840 made this a far more important watershed for children’s literature than the 1860s and the publication of The Water-Babies and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Moving onwards, I think he exaggerates the potential for anarchy in Richmal Crompton’s William books, given that this juvenile hero is never any real threat to the comfortable living conditions enjoyed by Mr and Mrs Brown and their various neighbours. Some more proof reading would also have helped, with the final ‘e’ on Graham Greene’s name wandering over to Eleanor Graham’s surname. But these quibbles apart, this well researched study is interesting as well as easy to read, and should be most useful for the increasing amount of students now following this subject.

Reviewer: 
Nicholas Tucker
4
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help/FAQ
  • My Account