Children's Fantasy Literature

An Introduction

By Michael Levy,Farah Mendlesohn | Publisher: Cambridge University Press

About the book

Fantasy has been an important and much-loved part of children's literature for hundreds of years, yet relatively little has been written about it. Children's Fantasy Literature traces the development of the tradition of the children's fantastic - fictions specifically written for children and fictions appropriated by them - from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century, examining the work of Lewis Carroll, L. Frank Baum, C. S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling and others from across the English-speaking world. The volume considers changing views on both the nature of the child and on the appropriateness of fantasy for the child reader, the role of children's fantasy literature in helping to develop the imagination, and its complex interactions with issues of class, politics and gender. The text analyses hundreds of works of fiction, placing each in its appropriate context within the tradition of fantasy literature.

Editions of Children's Fantasy Literature

Hardcover
ISBN 9781107018143
Paperback
ISBN 9781107610293

Read an Excerpt

Fantasy has been an important and much-loved part of children's literature for hundreds of years, yet relatively little has been written about it. Children's Fantasy Literature traces the development of the tradition of the children's fantastic - fictions specifically written for children and fictions appropriated by them - from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century, examining the work of Lewis Carroll, L. Frank Baum, C. S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling and others from across the English-speaking world. The volume considers changing views on both the nature of the child and on the appropriateness of fantasy for the child reader, the role of children's fantasy literature in helping to develop the imagination, and its complex interactions with issues of class, politics and gender. The text analyses hundreds of works of fiction, placing each in its appropriate context within the tradition of fantasy literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Children's Fantasy Literature about?

Fantasy has been an important and much-loved part of children's literature for hundreds of years, yet relatively little has been written about it. Children's Fantasy Literature traces the development of the tradition of the children's fantastic - fictions specifically written for children and fictions appropriated by them - from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century, examining the work of Lewis Carroll, L. Frank Baum, C. S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, J. K. Rowling and others from across the English-speaking world. The volume considers changing views on both the nature of the child and on the appropriateness of fantasy for the child reader, the role of children's fantasy literature in helping to develop the imagination, and its complex interactions with issues of class, politics and gender. The text analyses hundreds of works of fiction, placing each in its appropriate context within the tradition of fantasy literature.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Children's Fantasy Literature?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Children’s and teenage literature studies: general

Where can I read a sample of Children's Fantasy Literature?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781107018143

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Children's Fantasy Literature?

Michael Levy,Farah Mendlesohn

Who is the Publisher of the book Children's Fantasy Literature?

Cambridge University Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Children's Fantasy Literature is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781107018143) and paperback(ISBN 9781107610293)