Empire in British Girls' Literature and Culture: Imperial Girls, 1880-1915 (Critical Approaches to Children's Literature)

While the gender and age of the girl may seem to remove her from any significant contribution to empire, this book provides both a new perspective on familiar girls' literature, and the first detailed examination of lesser-known fiction relating the emergence of fictional girl adventurers, castaways and 'ripping' schoolgirls to the British Empire. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Series......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Figures......Page 9 Series Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 Introduction: Imperial Girls in British Literature and Culture......Page 14 1 Shaping the ‘Useful’ Girl: The Girl’s Own Paper, 1880–1907......Page 36 2 Developing Pedagogy and Hybridised Femininity in the Girls’ School Story......Page 73 3 Adventurous Girls of the British Empire: The Novels of Bessie Marchant......Page 97 4 Fantastic and Domestic Girls and the Idolisation of‘ Improving’ Others......Page 120 5 Be(ing) Prepared: Girl Guides, Colonial Life, and National Strength......Page 146 6 Microcosms of Girlhood: Reworking the Robinsonade for Girls......Page 172 Conclusion......Page 194 Notes......Page 197 Bibliography......Page 206 Index......Page 218 While the gender and age of the girl may seem to remove her from any contribution to empire, this text provides both a new perspective on familiar girls' literature, and a detailed examination of lesser-known fiction relating the emergence of fictional girl adventurers, castaways and 'ripping' schoolgirls to the British Empire