Beyond Nancy Drew: U.S. Girls’ Series Fiction in the Twentieth Century

This book explores the narratives of series heroines in relation to their social, historical, and economic environments, highlighting the recovery of stolen inheritances during the Great Depression and the different social ends it served compared to fighting Germans on an international stage. It expands scholarship on Nancy Drew by focusing on other "lost" heroines of twentieth century U.S. series fiction, organized by time period and providing insight into the cultural landscape that perpetuated their popularity and their continued impact into the twenty-first century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2024
Publisher: Lexington Books

This book delves into the narratives of series heroines who came before and after Nancy Drew, exploring their social, historical, and economic contexts. It highlights heroines like Miss Pickerell, Madge Sterling, and Polly the Powers Model, among others, and demonstrates that recovering stolen inheritances during the Great Depression served distinct social purposes compared to, say, engaging in international conflicts with Germany. By expanding the scholarship that often centers on Nancy Drew, this book sheds light on the stories of other "lost" heroines of twentieth-century U.S. series fiction. Arranged chronologically, the chapters provide valuable insights into the cultural landscapes that sustained the popularity of these heroines in their respective eras, how these series resonated with readers across decades, and their enduring influence even into the twenty-first century.

Weight: 578g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666946673