Home The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby by Charles Kingsley; Introduction by Richard D. Beards; Notes by Richard D. Beards (ISBN: 9780143105091)

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

Name: The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby (Penguin Classics)
Price: 3.24 GBP
Availability: InStock
Author: Kingsley, Charles
ISBN: 9780143105091

by Charles Kingsley; Introduction by Richard D. Beards; Notes by Richard D. Beards

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

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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

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. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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.

Details

Title The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby
Author Charles Kingsley; Introduction by Richard D. Beards; Notes by Richard D. Beards
Binding Paperback
Edition Reprint
Pages 224
Volumes 1
Language ENG
Publisher Penguin Group, New York, New York
Date 2008-04-29
Illustrated Yes
Features Bibliography, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
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)
Ages 09 to 12 years
Grade levels 4 - 7
Library of Congress subjects Fairy tales, Chimney sweeps
Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008008928
Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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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The Water-Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby (Penguin Classics)

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The Water Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby (Penguin Classics)

by Charles Kingsley

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

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Paperback / softback. New. A children's novel written in 1862-1863 as a serial for "Macmillan's Magazine" and published in its entirety in 1863.

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

by Kingsley, Charles

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Paperback / softback. New. New Book; Fast Shipping from UK; Not signed; Not First Edition; 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 pop