What Novels Did Children Read in 1800s
posted by Alina Ruiz
What kind of books divers your childhood? In Canada where I'm from, information technology was all about Robert Munsch, only I personally besides enjoyed Franklin , Horrible Harry , Goosebumps , Where the Sidewalk Ends , and of course Harry Potter. When you're a Master's student in literature at academy, yous can feel nostalgic about your childhood reading practices; mostly the fact that you lot didn't feel compelled to analyse every passage until all pleasure was lost from reading! Call back when going to the library was role of the class schedule in simple schoolhouse and for literally two hours a week the librarian would read to you? Yes, you didn't fifty-fifty have to read the books yourself! Those were the days!
Fast forward to 2016, and yours truly needed to find a nifty topic for her History of the Book project. I combined my nostalgia with my period of specialization and BAM! the topic 'Children's Literature in the Nineteenth Century' was built-in. Information technology was a good thing I'm a nineteenth century enthusiast, considering as I conducted my research, I found out that Children's literature didn't even exist prior to this period. 'But how is this possible,' you ask? Surely kids were reading earlier and then? The answer is yes – but they were reading books that were originally destined for adults! Even the Fables by Lafontaine were written for adults (if you lot ever get a hazard to read Émile by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, he goes on quite the spiel about how inappropriate it is for children to read the Fables).
At the end of the eighteenth century, the literature available to children ranged from school books dealing with arithmetic, grammer and history, didactic brusque stories and dialogues written past (mostly) governesses, or whatever kids could find in their parent'southward library (they took a strong liking to Robinson Crusoe). Among the literary circles of high guild, information technology was more often than not accepted that children were not worth writing for. Furthermore, those authors that did write stories for children were not considered 'real' writers, and were often ridiculed for their incompetence or shunned from literary gatherings.
Two things happened in the nineteenth century that were to modify the way people perceived children and writing. Firstly, the literacy rate amid the young was skyrocketing due to the introduction of new education laws that established new schools, subsidized the costs of supplies, secularized the curriculum and introduced mandatory attendance. Children suddenly became thirsty for new books, and publishers took the opportunity to monetize on the miracle. This brings united states of america to point number ii: industrialization. Thanks to inventions of new presses and inexpensive paper, books could now be mass-produced at lower costs. A new network of railways fabricated transporting these inexpensive books to eager children all over France much easier and sooner than later, books for children were the era'southward pinnacle bestsellers.
Outcome in memorial to P.-J. Hetzel, following the editor'southward expiry.
During my research, I kept coming across the name of one specific publisher, Pierre-Jules Hetzel. Out of all the publishers specializing in children'south book, he stood out for me due to his respect, genuineness, and compassion for his audience. Recall how I said that children'south authors were perceived as 'inferior' to other writers? Hetzel worked very difficult to change that consensus in France. As a publisher of books destined for adults as well, Hetzel deputed some of the greatest writers of the period to write children'southward stories for his first magazine: Nouveau magasin des enfants. Surely you've heard of George Sand, Alfred de Musset, and Balzac, but did you know that they wrote stories for children too? Yup! And information technology may have never happened without Hetzel'southward conclusion to modify the face up of children'southward literature in France.
Hetzel was a fascinating man and I encourage y'all to read nigh his life. For the purpose of my study, I full-bodied on what is arguably his greatest achievement as an editor: the Magasin d'éducation et de récréation. The championship says it all: Hetzel wanted to create a publication that would combine applied information with amusement. He wanted it to be a loftier quality projection written past renowned authors and academics, and illustrated past the all-time artists in France. It is important to annotation that while children'southward literature was expanding as a genre, most publishers were purely profit-driven, using the smallest fonts, the cheapest paper and certainly non spending the money to commission illustrations. Only not Hetzel. He felt that children deserved better and would be more inclined to larn if you gave them quality material. The paper he used was thick and sleeky. The size of his books was large in-8o and hundreds of pictures were featured in each volume. Hetzel's books were literally works of fine art.
Then what could yous read about in this magazine, yous ask? Literally everything regarding the arts and sciences. Height academics from the nation's virtually reputable schools were invited to contribute factual articles and entertaining fiction. Over the course of nigh xl years of existence, the Magasin included numerous topics including architecture, astronomy, anatomy, geography, family life, history, chemical science, sociology, charity, verse… yous name information technology! 1 thing you wouldn't find, however, was detailed word most God and religion. This was demonstrative of Hetzel'southward republican values, and his promotion of a secularized club long before the Ferry Laws made it mutual exercise. Another unique aspect of this magazine was that it contained content for all reading levels, meaning that the whole family, from newborns to parents, would savour and benefit from it. The nigh successful writer Hetzel discovered was undoubtedly Jules Verne whose scientific novels first appeared in the Magasin in serials before afterwards becoming classics in their own right. Verne was a perfect instance of an author who could appeal to both younger and more mature audiences.
Short poems to teach the messages of the alphabet. Can y'all run across the messages hidden in the pictures?
As yous tin can probably imagine, the Magasin was an immense projection that consumed Hetzel until the day he died. But why did he care so much about it? Why did he personally check every manuscript submitted and rework it until he thought it was absolutely perfect? Considering the success of the publication, he probably could have retired early and moved to some exotic, sunny place, right? Well, that was inconceivable for Hetzel. The man was a fervent republican and truly believed in the progress of humanity through literature. He saw that science and knowledge were the artery through which people would make the earth a more comfortable and merely place to live in. He also saw that children, if given a good education and taught to respect and help each other, would exist the ones capable of bringing real change in the world. Sounds similar someone should be giving this human being a peace prize!
I'k not certain about you, just to me this magazine seems pretty downright cool! Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era and fear for my ain future kids who will be reading books on tablets! They will never know the joy of unwrapping a beautifully illustrated emblem book on Christmas twenty-four hour period (and actually existence happy to receive it) or waiting by the mailbox for the adjacent chapter of a Jules Verne novel. Or mayhap you lot recall I'm crazy and but want to surf the internet. Regardless of how yous read literature, hopefully this little mail service has enlightened you on children and their literature in nineteenth century France. Don't forget to let u.s. know your favourite book from your babyhood by leaving a comment!
P.S. If the Magasin d'éducation et de recreation sounds actually neat to you, you lot may wish to cheque out Volume I available for complimentary online through Google Books. While you're at information technology, why not bank check out the Bodelian Library Special Collections website to find out what other gems of the past are hiding in the basements of Oxford.
Alina Ruiz is a postgraduate student in French at Oxford University. This mail was developed from her inquiry into the History of the Book as role of her Masters degree.
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Source: https://bookshelf.mml.ox.ac.uk/2016/04/27/what-did-french-kids-read-in-the-nineteenth-century/
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