The Family in English Childrens Literature

This book focuses on the ideological construction of the family in children s literature from Mrs Sherwood s Evangelical text of 1818 The History of the Fairchild Family to Jacqueline Wilson s recent social reality novels, interrogating the idea that portrayals of family in children s literature have changed dramtically, and suggesting instead that children s literature is remarkably conservative in its desire to promote the ideals of family to its readers.