The Edinburgh History of Children’s Periodicals

The most wide-ranging study of the history of children’s periodicals to date Comprises thirty-three chapters on the history of children’s periodicals from both well-established and emerging scholars, reflecting current work in the field Brings together cutting-edge research that spans a variety of research specialisms, time periods, and geographical locations Offers new insights into an area of children’s literature and culture that has often been unjustly marginalised Offers models for working with historical periodicals for children that will help to open up new avenues and develop future work in the field Since the publication of the first children’s periodical in the 1750s, magazines have been an affordable and accessible way for children to read and form virtual communities. Despite the range of children’s periodicals that exist, they have not been studied to the same extent as children’s literature. The Edinburgh History of Children’s Periodicals marks the first major history of magazines for young people from the mid-eighteenth century to the present. Bringing together periodicals from Britain, Ireland, North America, Australia, New Zealand and India, this book explores the roles of gender, race and national identity in the construction of children as readers and writers. It provides new insights both into how child readers shaped the magazines they read and how magazines have encouraged children to view themselves as political and world subjects.