Children's Literature From the Fin de Siecle to the New Millennium

The literary scene in the 1890s changed rapidly, with 'serious' writers defining themselves against popular fiction and that read by women and children. As modernist influences changed the style and concerns of adult fiction, many areas of publishing for children seemed determined to uphold traditional class and gender roles and to perpetuate a strong sense of national loyalty. During the twentieth century, however, a rise in secularism, new political, cultural and scientific theories and the emergence of youth culture expanded the range of issues and attitudes found in children's books. This updated version of Children's Literature in the 1890s and 1990s, reflects on these changes and how they have helped to shape the new century. It includes a revised and expanded bibliography.