The Family in English Childrens Literature

This book focuses on the ideological construction of the family in childrens literature from Mrs Sherwoods Evangelical text of 1818 The History of the Fairchild Family to Jacqueline Wilsons recent social reality novels, interrogating the idea that portrayals of family in childrens literature have changed dramtically, and suggesting instead that childrens literature is remarkably conservative in its desire to promote the ideals of family to its readers.