Imagination Defended: Nineteenth Century Criticism of Fanciful Children's Literature

PANEL PRESENTATION: REVIEW AND CRITICISM: THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND THE PRESENT Moderator: Louisa Smith Panel Members: Shirley Norby, Sea Girt School, Sea Girt, New Jersey Kathy Piehl, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan Mark Irwin West, Bowling Green State University, Gowling Green, Ohio Imagination Defended: Nineteenth Century Criticism of Fanciful Children's Literature Mark Irwin West Thousands of children's books were written in America between 1800 and 1870. If it were possible to collect all of these books, and bring them together in one library, a considerable amount of space would be needed. If, however, one were to roam through this collection and select only the imaginative and fanciful books from the shelves, it is likely that the desired books could be comfortably carried away under one arm. Most Americans who wrote for children during this period either neglected imagination or were actively hostile toward it. The general absence of fanciful children's books suggests that Americans as a whole did not value imagination during this period. One would expect, therefore, that the literary critics who reviewed children's books prior to 1870 would share this negative attitude toward imagination. In reality, though, the exact opposite was often the case. American book reviewers, as well as American children, had ample access to English and other European children' s books throughout the nineteenth century. A large number of European children's books were published in the United States by the American branches of British publishing houses. Also, American publishers often legally obtained the rights to publish European children's stories. Other American publishers took advantage of the confusion over international copyright laws and simply pirated European children's books. Among the European children's books, that were published in America, were collections of fairy tales and other fanciful stories. Harper' s New Monthly Magazine, Atlantic Monthly , and other literary magazines often selected these imaginative, European children's books for review. In 1858, a collection of fairy tales was published in America under the title of Arabian Days' Entertainments . Atlantic Monthly greeted the book with praise. In a lengthy review published in the January 1859 issue, the book was recommended for both adults and children. The review began with the following defense of fairy tales: In this famous nineteenth century of ours , which prides itself on being practical, and feeds voraciously on facts, and considers itself almost above being amused, we for our part rejoice to greet such a book as this . Our great-great-grandfathers , when they were boys , were happy in having wise and good grandfathers who told them pleasant stories of what never happend, — and who loved well to tell them, because they were truly wise men, and knew what the child's mind relished and fattened upon, — nay, and because, like all truly good men, they themselves indulged a fond, secret, halfbelief that these child's stories of theirs were, if the truth could be got at, more than half true. We would be sorry to believe that this good old life of story-telling and story-hearing had utterly gone out. It belonged to an age that- only very foolish men and very vulgar men laugh at without blushing. In 1863, Dinah Maria Mulock, an English author, published a collection of fairy tales in the United States. Her book, The Fairy Book, was well received by both Harper' s New Monthly Magazine and The New York Times . Harper's called the book a "charming volume." The New York Times had high praise for the book and its author. The reviewer wrote: Miss Mulock has done good service to the rising generation by the preparation of this elegant little volume. Our young friends will find in it all of their old favorites, and possibly make the acquaintance of some new ones equally attractive . . . all parents who think that the fancy and the imagination of children need cultivating as well as the intellect, will thank her for her unassuming labor. In 1866, another collection of fairy tales was offered to American book buyers. The Fairy Book of All Nations was written by Edouard Laboulaye, a Frenchman, and was translated into English by Mary L. Booth. The New York Times...