A Juvenile Miscellany: An Anthology of Lydia Maria Child's Writing for Children

Lydia Maria Child was a key figure in the development of American literature in the early 19th century. She wrote novels, poems, short stories, housekeeping and parenting manuals, edited abolitionist newspapers, and invented a new American literature for children. This anthology brings together a career-spanning collection of her writing for children, demonstrating the richness and range of her work. Child trusted her young readers to understand difficult questions of social and racial justice, exploration of natural and national history, and sentimental domestic sketches.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 436 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: UEA Publishing Project

Lydia Maria Child, a prominent author and activist, played a pivotal role in shaping American literature during the early nineteenth century. Her debut novel, Hobomok (1824), challenged societal norms by depicting interracial marriage, setting the stage for her remarkable literary career. Throughout her life, Child continued to write and address pressing issues of American society, earning a loyal readership. She authored novels, poems, short stories, housekeeping and parenting manuals, edited abolitionist newspapers, and narratives, including the renowned Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861).

What is less known about Child is her significant contribution to children's literature. She was a constant companion to young readers worldwide, particularly during her tenure as the editor of the groundbreaking children's magazine, The Juvenile Miscellany (1826-1834). Through this publication, Child expanded the boundaries of what children's literature could encompass, presenting complex themes such as social and racial justice, natural and national history, and heartfelt domestic sketches.

This anthology, for the first time, brings together a comprehensive collection of Child's writing for children, showcasing the extraordinary richness and diversity of her vital work in this field. By trusting her young readers with challenging subjects, Child paved the way for generations of children to engage with literature and understand the world around them.

Contemporary readers can now relish the joy and excitement that accompanied the arrival of a new issue of The Juvenile Miscellany while critically examining the enduring relevance of these questions in the twenty-first century. Child's legacy continues to inspire and nurture the imagination of young readers, reminding us of the power of literature to shape our understanding of the world and inspire social change.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 128 x 199 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915812278