My School Days

Description

Known as a prolific and successful writer of children’s books, including picture books, short stories and novels, E. Nesbit is considered by many to be the first modern writer of stories dedicated to children. Her books are characterized by a deep and loving understanding of the world of kids – attitude that makes My School Days, this excellent series of articles that give her account of her owns chool days, such an interesting, educative and entertaining read.

The memoirs were published in series spread over the period of a year between 1896-1897 in the magazine entitled The Girl’s Own Paper, years before any of the children’s books that made her famous later were published. The serialized articles provide not only an account of the events and happenings that filled the everyday life of a schoolgirl, but also complex and detailed character descriptions of relatives, schoolmates and teachers.

The reader learns about what scares a child and what makes a child happy, about what kids of various ages consider to be important. Many of the recollections present childhood as a carefree and idyllic time, but there are others that show the darker side of children’s lives in the Victorian era. Sending children away for school or to live with relatives at a very young age was very common in the period, and it was a method considered to be an excellent way to teach the kids to be independent and well-mannered. However, spending so much time away from the close family did take a toll on family relationships, generating a gap impossible-or at least very difficult-to bridge between parents and their children, thus affecting the life of everyone in a negative way.

My School Days describes the life,the fears and aspirations of a child at a most delicate age – the child featured is only around the age of 10 in the last chapter of the book.
[amz_corss_sell asin=”1775427935″]