A century of children's books

A CENTURY OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS


A CENTURY OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS
BY FLORENCE V. BARRY B. LITT.
METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W. C. LONDON

First Published in 1922

This book was begun at Oxford before the War, when I had the great privilege of being a student in Sir Walter Raleigh’s class. Through his generous encouragement, it was continued at intervals and under many difficulties; and if he had not found some things to like in it, I should hardly venture to put it forth in its present shape.
It is true that the interest of great men in little books (a token of romance since the eighteenth century) is no gauge of public favour; but the history of children’s books is in some sort a record of childhood. Lovers of children may be willing to look through the shelves of old nurseries, if only for the portraits.