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Books in Twayne's English Authors Series series

  • Hugh Lofting

    Gary D. Schmidt

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, Sept. 1, 1992)
    Hugh Lofting (1886-1947) is best known for his classic series of children's books depicting Doctor Dolittle - the kindhearted, eccentric veterinarian whose ability to converse with animals and whose astounding travels with a cadre of critters have delighted readers for more than 70 years. Beginning with The Story of Doctor Dolittle in 1920, Lofting went on to write eleven other Dolittle books, among them the Newbery Medal-winning The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle. While critics have praised the Dolittle books for their humor, wit, and imagination, and while the Dolittle character has captivated audiences in screen and stage adaptations, Lofting's larger message - one concerning issues of peace and justice - has often been overlooked.That Lofting's work deserves reconsideration is the thesis of this new study by Gary D. Schmidt. Drawing on not only extensive research but also numerous personal communications with Lofting's family members, Schmidt provides fresh insights into his subject's life and work. In clear, engaging prose Schmidt argues that Lofting viewed his writing as a political and moral task: to encourage peace by providing children with examples of kindness, gentleness, compassion, and tolerance.In an illuminating first chapter readers learn intriguing biographical information - for instance, that The Story of Doctor Dolittle, perhaps Lofting's greatest work, had its beginnings in a series of story-letters that Lofting, writing from the trenches of World War I, sent home to his children. Subsequent chapters examine each of the Dolittle books, as well as Lofting's lesser-known works, among them the essay "Children and Internationalism" and the long poem Victory for the Slain.An important addition to existing studies in children's literature, Hugh Lofting will appeal to scholars, students, and general readers alike. Included are a preface, chronology, notes, bibliography, and index, as well as illustrations.
  • Noel Streatfeild

    Nancy Lyman Huse

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, Nov. 1, 1994)
    In this comprehensive analysis of a woman hailed by her fellow Britons as a "National Monument," Nancy Huse argues that Streatfeild's work challenges the status of "girls' books," described in most criticism as ephemeral or constituting a category separate from "great books." Huse attributes the appeal of Streatfeild's books to their contemporary themes and traditional values and finds that in exploring the tensions of heredity and environment Streatfeild anticipated many contemporary questions about the role of women, the structure of the family, and the implications of the class system. In particular, Huse notes, Streatfeild (in both her children's and adult novels) used the poverty of women and their work in the domestic sphere to link the public with the private worlds shaping children.Streatfeild's conservative upbringing, rebellious youth, and complex life-long relationship with her family provided material for her novels, according to Huse. Streatfeild developed a conscious perspective on childhood that she used to defend child/adult boundaries while sharpening story forms. At the same time, Huse contends, her multifaceted talent admitted new subjects, character types, themes, and information into the children's book because she assumed competence and intelligent curiosity as the basis of children's contributions to the family and to society.In this vibrant portrait of the life and work of such an innovative children's writer, Huse suggests some meaningful ways to evaluate the family novel, the role of a children's novelist in preserving and constructing a historical record, and the implications of formulaic patterns that derive from female experience.
  • P.L. Travers

    Patricia Demers

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, March 1, 1991)
    Examines the works of the author of "Mary Poppins," focusing on her use of myth and fairy tale in all her writings, and arguing that her works have equal appeal to children and to the child in every adult
  • A.A. Milne

    Thomas Burnett Swann

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, June 15, 1971)
    First edition. Issued as no. 113 in Twayne's English Authors Series. As Milnes never tired of protesting, he was much more than a children's author. Besides his famous juveniles, his formidable output includes thirteen volumes or pamphlets of articles and sketches; twelve separately published plays; five adult novels; two collections of poetry; three collections of short stories and an autobiography. Bookplate of Doris Frohnsdorff loosely inserted. 153+ 1 pages. cloth. small 8vo..
  • Jean and Laurent De Brunhoff: The Legacy of Babar

    Ann Meinzen Hildebrand

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, April 1, 1992)
    In 1931 Jean de Brunhoff introduced French children to a little elephant by the name of Babar, a gentle, charming character whose journey from orphaned forest dweller to dapper, convivial sophisticate is chronicled in L'Histoire de Babar, the first in a series of stories that has captivated children the world over. In this book and the six that followed, de Brunhoff created an idyllic world in which Babar, wearing spats and driving a little red convertible, marries, has children, travels extensively, and is eventually crowned king of the elephants, all the while espousing a quintessentially French ideal--bonheur--and placing a high premium on family affection, discipline, and benevolence. Laurent de Brunhoff finished some of the manuscripts left incomplete on his father's death in 1937 and then wrote Babar stories of his own, continuing a storytelling legacy in which the perplexities of modern living are always reconciled with traditional values. The rendering of situations in which aplomb and elegance occur simultaneously with action and adventure is the hallmark of the de Brunhoffs' illustrations, so distinct with their bold lines and primary colors.In her unique study of the Babar milieu, Ann Meinzen Hildebrand looks at the de Brunhoffs' complete works, analyzing the thematic development of the stories and commenting on the essential role of the illustrations. Acknowledging the differences between the work of father and son, Hildebrand attributes the series' continuing popularity to the way in which both artists have created an elephant cosmos that is a mirror of real and ideal life. She shows how de Brunhoff pere et fils have eschewed simple "animal fantasy" for fascinating characters who respond to everyday situations, both tragic and frivolous, thoughtfully and act on the principles of perseverance, patience, hope, and courage. Hildebrand's comprehensive study establishes the genius of the de Brunhoffs and explains how one kindly, nondidactic elephant in a derby hat has become such a socializing force for young readers.
  • Arthur Ransome

    Peter Hunt

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, June 1, 1991)
    An account of the life and a critical examination of the works of Ransome (1884-1967), considered the father of modern British children's literature. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
  • William Shakespeare: His Life and Times

    Dennis Kay

    Hardcover (Twayne Publishers, Dec. 1, 1994)
    Series Editors: Kinley E. Roby, Northeastern University; Herbert Sussman, Northeastern University; Joseph Bartolomeo, University of Massachusetts; George Economou, University of Oklahoma; Arthur F. Kinney, University of Massachusetts. TWAYNES UNITED STATES AUTHORS, ENGLISH AUTHORS, and WORLD AUTHORS Series present concise critical introductions to great writers and their works. Devoted to critical interpretation and discussion of an authors work, each study takes account of major literary trends and important scholarly contributions and provides new critical insights with an original point of view. An Authors Series volume addresses readers ranging from advanced high school students to university professors. The book suggests to the informed reader new ways of considering a writers work. A reader new to the work under examination will, after reading the Authors Series, be compelled to turn to the originals, bringing to the reading a basic knowledge and fresh critical perspectives. Each volume features: a critical, interpretive study and explication of the authors works; a brief biography of the author; an accessible chronology outlining the life, work, and relevant historical background of the author; aids for further study -- complete notes and references, a selected annotated bibliography, and an index; and a readable style presented in a manageable length.
  • L.M. Montgomery

    Genevieve Wiggins

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, July 1, 1992)
    Examines the literary career of the author of "Anne of Green Gables" and the influence of her personal life on her writings.
  • Children's Literature in Canada

    Elizabeth Waterston, Elizabeth Waterton

    Hardcover (Twayne Pub, Nov. 1, 1992)
    The rich and varied landscape of Canadian children's literature has been largely unexplored by American readers, but Elizabeth Waterston's engaging survey provides them with an invitation to discover the full range of Canadian writing for children - from colonial folktales and historical novels to fantasy literature and contemporary science fiction. Waterston's informative study brings to life Canadian history and culture and illuminates a unique literary community in which acclaimed adult writers like Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, and Mordechai Richler are also the authors of children's books.Waterston demonstrates the distinctly Canadian elements of such works as The Young Fur Traders (1856), Anne of Green Gables (1908), and Alligator Pie (1974). This study delineates the developmental stages through which children progress and discusses the various literary genres that appeal to them at each stage, from picture books and nursery rhymes to historical tales and science fiction. In addition to her focus on the response of the child to various genres, Waterston provides sophisticated literary analysis of the works that have endured as classics, demonstrating how their continuing relevance is rooted in their literary merit. She examines literary styles, themes, and motifs and shows how many of the perennial favorites embrace quintessentially Canadian virtues: honesty, a strong will to survive, humor, passion, and genuine kindness. American and Canadian teachers, librarians, and parents will find in this complete guide a resource for expanding their young readers' literary universe.