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Cover of Left Out

Left Out

by Kimberley Reynolds

Book Details

Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:2016
Pages:272
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9780198755593

Reading Info

About This Book

Left Out presents an alternative and corrective history of writing for children in the first half of the twentieth century. Between 1910 and 1949 a number of British publishers, writers, and illustrators included children's literature in their efforts to make Britain a progressive, egalitarian, and modern society. Some came from privileged backgrounds, others from the poorest parts of the poorest cities in the land; some belonged to the metropolitan intelligentsia or bohemia, others were working

Our Review

This scholarly work uncovers a hidden chapter in children's literature history, revealing how between 1910 and 1949, British publishers and creators used children's books as tools for social reform. The book examines progressive writers and illustrators from diverse backgrounds—from privileged elites to working-class artists—who envisioned children's literature as a means to build a more egalitarian Britain. Their efforts challenged conventional narratives about early twentieth-century children's publishing and its role in shaping modern society.

What makes this study particularly compelling is its focus on marginalized voices and radical perspectives that mainstream children's literature history has often overlooked. Readers interested in literary history, social reform movements, and the intersection of childhood and politics will find this corrective history both illuminating and thought-provoking. The research demonstrates how children's books became unexpected vehicles for progressive ideals during a period of significant social transformation.

Themes

History

Subjects

History