Cautionary Tales for Children - Hardcover

Belloc, Hilaire

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781393214 ISBN 13: 9781781393215

Publisher: Oxford City Press, 2012

Synopsis

Hilaire Belloc's misbehaving children suffer all manner of grisly ends in these cautionary tales that poke fun at the idea of improving children's morals through verse stories. Once heard, who can forget 'Henry King, Who chewed bits of String' or the unfortunate lies of Matilda? The wicked humour ensures that they will remain favourites throughout the generations. This new edition has been carefully typeset to remain faithful to the original, and includes all of Basil Blackwood's brilliant black and white illustrations.

About this title

About the Author:

Hilaire Belloc was born in France and educated at Newman's Oratory School and at Balliol College, Oxford. From 1906 to 1910 he was Liberal MP for Salford and literary editor of the Morning Post. As well as writing books of verse and novels, he also wrote on religious, social and political topics.

From School Library Journal:

Adult/High School-Tales is written in the style of a picture book, with sprightly little rhymes that speak of the foibles of children and the horrible consequences thereof. First penned nearly a century ago, the sort of story that Belloc parodies continues to be written today and read to youngsters, but readers who are more sophisticated will better appreciate these tales of disproportionate punishment. Children are whimsically eaten by lions or consigned to life as a bootblack for their sins-or, by contrast, a boy who fires a loaded gun at his sister is reprimanded sternly. Gorey's artfully antiquated style exactly fits Belloc's writing and brings this edition to life-a single pen-and-ink line shows the sister's satisfaction at hearing her brother called to task. The previously unpublished illustrations meticulously convey texture, such as the clothing of the myriad physicians called in to help poor Henry King who swallowed string, and the expressions of the self-satisfied adults seem so earnestly and seriously drawn as to make the whole that much more humorous. The art is refined and genteel-never gory. Teenagers will enjoy this quick and cathartic read.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford City Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1781393214
• ISBN 13: 9781781393215
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 82
• Illustrator: Blackwood Basil Temple