The Children's Book
Encyclopedia
The Children's Book is a 2009 novel by British writer A.S. Byatt. It follows the adventures of several inter-related families, adults and children, from 1895 through World War I
. Loosely based upon the life of children's writer E. Nesbit
there are secrets slowly revealed that show that the families are much more creatively formed than first guessed. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize
.
The Wellwood family (Olive, Humphrey, Olive's sister Violet, and many children) are Fabians, living in a world of artists, writers, craftsman, all moving into new ways to express art, and living an artful life, before the horrors and loss of the Great War. While the central character of Olive is a writer of children's literature, supporting her large family with her writing, the title of the book refers to the children in the book: Tom, Julian, Philip, Elsie, Dorothy, Hedda, Griselda, Florence, Charles/Karl, Phyllis and others, following each as they approach adulthood and the terrors of war.
In an interview with The Guardian
Byatt says: "I started with the idea that writing children's books isn't good for the writers' own children. There are some dreadful stories. Christopher Robin at least lived. Kenneth Grahame's son put himself across a railway line and waited for the train. Then there's JM Barrie. One of the boys that Barrie adopted almost certainly drowned himself. This struck me as something that needed investigating. And the second thing was, I was interested in the structure of E Nesbit's family — how they all seemed to be Fabians and fairy-story writers." The book has so many fictional and historical characters that Byatt had to create a spreadsheet in Excel to keep track of them all.
The London Wellwoods:
At the Victoria and Albert Museum:
At Purchase House in Dungeness:
Neighbors in Kent:
"Their guests were socialist, anarchists, Quakers, Fabians, artists, editors, freethinkers, and writers who lived, either all time, or at weekends and on holidays in converted cottages and old farmhouses, Arts and Crafts homes and workingmen's terraces, in the villages, woods and meadows around the Kentish Weald and the North and South Downs."
The Germans:
The Tutors:
2010 James Tait Black Memorial Prize
.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Loosely based upon the life of children's writer E. Nesbit
E. Nesbit
Edith Nesbit was an English author and poet whose children's works were published under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television...
there are secrets slowly revealed that show that the families are much more creatively formed than first guessed. It was shortlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
.
The Wellwood family (Olive, Humphrey, Olive's sister Violet, and many children) are Fabians, living in a world of artists, writers, craftsman, all moving into new ways to express art, and living an artful life, before the horrors and loss of the Great War. While the central character of Olive is a writer of children's literature, supporting her large family with her writing, the title of the book refers to the children in the book: Tom, Julian, Philip, Elsie, Dorothy, Hedda, Griselda, Florence, Charles/Karl, Phyllis and others, following each as they approach adulthood and the terrors of war.
In an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Byatt says: "I started with the idea that writing children's books isn't good for the writers' own children. There are some dreadful stories. Christopher Robin at least lived. Kenneth Grahame's son put himself across a railway line and waited for the train. Then there's JM Barrie. One of the boys that Barrie adopted almost certainly drowned himself. This struck me as something that needed investigating. And the second thing was, I was interested in the structure of E Nesbit's family — how they all seemed to be Fabians and fairy-story writers." The book has so many fictional and historical characters that Byatt had to create a spreadsheet in Excel to keep track of them all.
Fictional characters in their families
The Kent Wellwoods:- Olive Wellwood, wife of Humphrey, mother of Tom, and many other children, a writer of children's books, mostly fairy stories. Born in very humble circumstances, her income supports the family in their large house named Todefright. She is an expert in British FairyFairyA fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
Lore. - Violet Grimwith, Olive's sister,keeps house for the Wellwood family, and calls herself the children's "real" mother.
- Humphry Wellwood, works for the Bank of England, is suspicious of quick-profit schemes, likes women a lot, and is married to Olive. They are both active in the Fabian SocietyFabian SocietyThe Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
. - Tom Wellwood, eldest son of Olive and Humphrey, he loves being in nature.
- Dorothy Wellwood, eldest daughter, she decides to be a doctor.
- Phyllis Wellwood, another daughter, she likes keeping house.
- Hedda Wellwood, a future suffragetteSuffragette"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
, - Florian Wellwood, Phyllis' brother
- Robin Wellwood, always one of the youngest children
- Harry Wellwood, the last baby born to Olive.
- Rosy, a recently departed baby.
- Peter Wellwood, their first baby, who died very young.
The London Wellwoods:
- Basil Wellwood, Humphrey's brother, does well at banking.
- Katharina Wildvogel Wellwood, the boss's daughter, Basil's wife, born in Germany.
- Charles/Karl Wellwood, their son who becomes an Anarchist.
- Griselda Wellwood, their daughter,very pretty and a scholar.
At the Victoria and Albert Museum:
- Major Prosper Cain, Special Keeper of Precious Metals at the South Kensington Museum the future Victoria and Albert MuseumVictoria and Albert MuseumThe Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. - Julian Cain, son of Major Prosper Cain and a student at Eton and Cambridge
- Florence Cain, his daughter, who ends up in Italy and becomes close with Gabriel Goldwasser.
At Purchase House in Dungeness:
- Benedict Fludd, an eccentric artist and master potter whose work is collected.
- Seraphita (Sarah-Jane) Fludd, his wife who does embroidery and little else.
- Geraint Fludd, their son, who is interested in business.
- Imogen Fludd, their daughter, who is rescued by Prosper Cain.
- Pomona Fludd, their daughter, who sleepwalks.
- Philip Warren, a runaway from the factories who becomes an apprentice to Benedict Fludd. He is first seen sketching the Gloucester candlestickGloucester candlestickThe Gloucester Candlestick is an elaborately decorated English Romanesque gilt-bronze candlestick, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It was made for Gloucester Cathedral between 1104 and 1113.-Description:...
. - Elsie Warren, who finds Phillip after their mother dies and then keeps house for the Fludds.
- Ann, Elsie's daughter
Neighbors in Kent:
"Their guests were socialist, anarchists, Quakers, Fabians, artists, editors, freethinkers, and writers who lived, either all time, or at weekends and on holidays in converted cottages and old farmhouses, Arts and Crafts homes and workingmen's terraces, in the villages, woods and meadows around the Kentish Weald and the North and South Downs."
- Vasily Tartarinov, a Russian anarchist and refugee.
- Elena, his wife. Andrei and Dmitri, their sons.
- Leslie and Etta Skinner, Fabians and scholars.
- Arthur Dobbin, not a good apprentice to Benedict Fludd, but perhaps better as a promoter of the arts.
- Augustus Steyning, a theater director and sometime playwright
- Patty Dace, on many committees, helpful to women in need.
- Herbert Methley, a man who lectures about the "sex problem," seduces women, and write books that are banned
- Phoebe Methley, not really Herbert's wife.
- Marion Oakeshott, a "widow", local school teacher, and close friend of Humphrey Wellwood.
- Robin Oakeshott, Marion's son, who looks very much like Robin Wellwood.
The Germans:
- Anselm Stern, a master of puppetry and marionettes, who once knew Olive Wellwood long ago in Munich.
- Angela Stern, his wife.
- Wolfgang Stern, their oldest son, expert at stagecraft.
- Leon Stern, the quieter younger son.
The Tutors:
- Toby Youlgreave, an old friend of both Humphrey and Olive, he teaches the older boys, preparing to enter school.
- Joachim Susskind, a young German who tutors Tom and Charles/Karl.
Historical characters
- J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, compliments Olive's plays, a contemporary
- Rupert BrookeRupert BrookeRupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially The Soldier...
, at college with Julian Cain, he attends all the right plays and parties. - William MorrisWilliam MorrisWilliam Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, whose artworks are mentioned often and sets the tone for the Arts and CraftsArts and Crafts movementArts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
subtext of the novel. - Bernard PalissyBernard PalissyBernard Palissy was a French Huguenot potter, hydraulics engineer and craftsman, famous for having struggled for sixteen years to imitate Chinese porcelain...
, mentioned throughout as the most expert of potters. - Oscar WildeOscar WildeOscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
, shown in his declining years and at the Paris - Edward CarpenterEdward CarpenterEdward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
, gay activist and advocate of "back to nature" approach as a cure for civilisation problems - George Merrill, Carpenter's lifelong companion
- Emma GoldmanEmma GoldmanEmma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
, an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. - Marie StopesMarie StopesMarie Carmichael Stopes was a British author, palaeobotanist, campaigner for women's rights and pioneer in the field of birth control...
, family planning pioneer
Awards and nominations
2009 Man Booker Prize nomination.2010 James Tait Black Memorial Prize
James Tait Black Memorial Prize
Founded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are among the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language and are Britain's oldest literary awards...
.
Reviews
- New York Times Book Review Dangerous Fancies by Jennifer Schuessler, 8 October 2009.
- Guardian UK Book review: "Her dark materials AS Byatt's charged account of the perils of artistic creation chills" by Alex Clark, 9 May 2009.