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The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby

The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby Softcover - 2008

by Kingsley, Charles (Author)

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  • Paperback

A young chimney sweep enters a magical waterworld where he meets creatures that teach him the difference between right and wrong.

Description

Penguin Books, 2008. Softcover. New/No Jacket. New Book: Trade Paperback
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Details

  • Title The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby
  • Author Kingsley, Charles (Author)
  • Binding Softcover
  • Edition Reprint
  • Condition New
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Books, New York, New York
  • Date 2008
  • Features Bibliography, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • Bookseller's Inventory # 135173
  • ISBN 9780143105091 / 0143105094
  • Weight 0.4 lbs (0.18 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 in (19.56 x 12.95 x 1.78 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Fairy tales, Chimney sweeps
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008008928
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About this book

The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby is a children's novel by the Reverend Charles Kingsley. Written in 1862-1863 as a serial for Macmillan's Magazine, it was first published in its entirety in 1863. The book was extremely popular during its day, and was a mainstay of children's literature through the 1920s, but eventually fell out of favor in part due to its prejudices against Irish, Jews, Catholics, blacks, Americans, and the poor.

In the style of Victorian-era novels, The Water-Babies is a didactic moral fable about a young chimney sweep, Tom, who falls into a river and becomes a 'water-baby,' guided by moral teachers through lessons and adventures, eventually earning the right to become human again and being united with an upper-class girl Ellie who had also become a 'water-baby.'


Summary

The beloved Victorian children?s tale?now available in its original unabridged edition

Instantly popular upon its initial publication in 1863, The Water Babies is at once a bewitching childhood fantasy and a skillfully woven moral allegory. Tom, a young chimney sweep, escapes his horrendous job and his cruel boss, Grimes, when fairies plunge him into a fantastical world under the sea. As he meets and befriends his fellow water babies, as well as all sorts of sea creatures, he begins to learn some valuable lessons. Much in demand by scholars, this authoritative new edition?featuring the Victorian illustrations from early editions?will charm children and adults alike.

From the publisher

"First published in Great Britain by Macmillan and Co., 1863." Includes bibliographical references.

First Edition Identification

First edition (London Macmillan and Company 1863) is usually without the L'Envoi leaf as is almost always encountered as the author had it removed from all but the first 200 or so copies. Illustrations in this edition include two full page plates by J. Noel Paton and with a number of small illustrations used throughout as opening initials.

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About the author

Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875) led quite a wild life at university but, in 1842, he followed in his father's footsteps and was ordained as a priest. He was a Christian Socialist and spent his life campaigning for such things as better education for girls, and improving the living conditions of the working class. Victorian society was very inflexible and Kingsley was soon branded as a radical. His patriotic attitude to the Crimean War (1854 - 6), made him acceptable again and he became Chaplain to Queen Victoria. Later, royal influence led to his appointment as a Professor of History at Cambridge University. During his 'out of favour' years he was a devoted priest in Hampshire and put his beliefs into practice. His work as a parish priest and his lecture tours as a Christian Socialist, always came first, leaving his writing to take second place.

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