K-O Classic Children's Literature
Little Women, Robin Hood, Oliver Twist, Fairy Tale and More...
Apr 17, 2009
It is often said that children have active imaginations, and nothing appeals to the imagination more than reading fiction.
Continuing from F-J Classic Children’s Literature, ranging from the ordinary to the extreme this diverse collection of novels and stories offers something for all literary tastes.
K – Kidnapped (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson
This historical fiction novel is set in eighteenth century Scotland. Following the recent deaths of his parents, young David Balfour travels to find his Uncle Ebenezer, who distrusts his nephew. The story continues with tales of capture, escape, shipwreck, theft, mystery, and, of course, kidnapping before the happy conclusion.
Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) wrote many other famously vivid tales such as Treasure Island(1883) and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886).
L - Little Women (1868) by Louisa May Alcott
Set in Concord, Massachusetts during the American Civil War, Little Women (1868) recounts the episodic stories of the four March Sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Each sister has a distinct personality and since the book follows the outline of Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), character flaws of each sister becomes gradually corrected as each matures into adulthood.
Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) based the characters on some of her own sisters. Today, the book is usually published as one volume with its sequel, Good Wives (1869). Alcott wrote a further two sequels, Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886), but none of her other works were as continuously successful as Little Women.
M – The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883) by Howard Pyle
American author, Howard Pyle (1853-1911) recounted the legendary tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who robbed from the rich to give to the poor. The story begins as Robin becoming an outlaw as a means of counteracting the corrupt regency of Prince John. The story proceeds with Robin finding each of his “merry men” and regularly escaping the punishments of the law.
The same stories have been retold by other writers, but this record of the stories is specifically aimed for child readers.
N – New Fairy Tales (1843) by Hans Christian Anderson
Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875) wrote many still famous fairy tales such as The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid, The Red Shoes, The Snow Queen, and Thumbelina. These stories remain popular despite their often dark overtones or conclusions.
New Fairy Tales (1843) features the first publication of the beloved Anderson fairy tale of The Ugly Duckling.
O – Oliver Twist (1839) by Charles Dickens
Orphaned Oliver Twist is cast out from the workhouse for requesting more gruel to eat. Following hardship experiences, he accidentally finds himself tricked into joining a gang of child thieves headed by the infamous Fagin, but soon Oliver realizes that he must escape from his acquaintanceship with the Artful Dodger and the menacing Bill Sikes. Goodhearted Nancy takes pity on the foundling, and plans to assist in getting him to the safety of his previously unknown family.
This was the second completed novel of Charles Dickens, and it was the first novel of the English language to centre throughout on a child character.
The Prince and the Pauper, Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, The Swiss Family Robinson
Mistaken identity, misplaced acts of chivalry, mishaps, and mystery - continuing with P-S Classic Children’s Literature, the pages of these novels are filled with adventure, disguise, escape, and journeys of the mind as well as across miles. From historical fiction to stories of castaways, these novels exemplify their literary genres.
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