Narratives of Love and Loss: Studies in Modern Children¿s Fiction, Revised Edition

On its first publication Narratives of Love and Loss was widely recognised as an important and perceptive contribution to the study of children's literature and for its capacity to stimulate deep emotional responses in both child and adult readers. This welcome reissue includes a new postscript exploring in detail the phenomenal success of J.K Rowling's series of Harry Potter stories. The authors succeed in bringing a deep sociological and psychoanalytic close reading to some of the finest writing for children in post-war Britain and America, including works by C.S. Lewis, Rumer Godden, E.B. White and Russel Hoban. Focussed primarily on the 'fantasy genre of stories' the authors identify and sensitively explore the themes of imaginative and emotional growth, language and play, love and loss; always situating these within the broader social and cultural context. Contents 8 PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 12 Introduction: Deep Structures in Modern Children's Fiction 16 1. Loneliness, Dreaming and Discovery: Tom's Midnight Garden 42 2. Narnia: An Imaginary Land as Container of Moral and Emotional Adventure 55 3. Magic Wishes and the Self Explorations of Children: Five Children and It 74 4. The Life of Dolls: Rumer Godden's Understanding of Children's Imaginative Play 99 5. The Maternal Capacities of a Small Boy: The Indian in the Cupboard 119 6. Animals in Reality and Fantasy: Two Stories by Philippa Pearce 134 7. The Poetic Power of Ordinary Speech: E. B. White's Children's Stories 161 8. Who Believes in 'Borrowers'? 178 9. Making Out in America: The Mouse and His Child 196 10. Inner Implications of Extended Traumas: Carrie's War 211 11. Finding Oneself among Strangers: Three Stories by Paula Fox 230 Conclusions: Explorations of Loss 263 NOTES 271 POSTSCRIPT: The Inner World of Harry Potter 278 LIST OF PRINCIPAL WORKS DISCUSSED 308 INDEX 310 Introduction: Deep Structures In Modern Children's Fiction -- Loneliness, Dreaming And Discovery: Tom's Midnight Garden -- Narnia: An Imaginary Land As Container Of Moral And Emotional Adventure -- Magic Wishes And The Self Explorations Of Children: Five Children And It -- The Life Of Dolls: Rumer Godden's Understanding Of Children's Imaginative Play -- The Maternal Capacities Of A Small Boy: The Indian In The Cupboard -- Animals In Reality And Fantasy: Two Stories By Philippa Pearce -- The Poetic Power Of Ordinary Speech: E.b. White's Children's Stories -- Who Believes In 'borrowers'? -- Making Out In America: The Mouse And His Child -- Inner Implications Of Extended Traumas: Carrie's War -- Finding Oneself Among Strangers: Three Stories By Paula Fox -- Conclusions: Explorations Of Loss -- Postscript: The Inner World Of Harry Potter. Margaret Rustin & Michael Rustin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.