This study examines the contents, themes, and publishing histories of juvenile literature. Subjects range from Louisa May Alcott to Nancy Drew's home town, including Tom Swift (and his girlfriend), Dave Fearless, the Bobbsey Twins, Howard R. Garis, the Louisa May Alcott/Oliver Optic feud, Leo Edwards, Harry Collingwood, Edward Stratemeyer, the Rover Boys, Franklin Mathiews and Boy Scout Censorship, and Percy Keese Fitzhugh.
The cultural fantasy of twins imagines them as physically and behaviorally identical. Media portrayals consistently offer the spectacle of twins who share an insular closeness and perform a supposed alikeness--standing side by side, speaking and acting in unison. Treating twinship as a cultural phenomenon, this first comprehensive study of twins in American literature and popular culture examines the historical narrative--within the discourses of experimentation, aberrance and eugenics--and how it has shaped their representations in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Bobbsey family's plans for the summer are suddenly changed when the news arrives that Mrs. Bobbsey has inherited a cattle ranch and lumber tract in the West. Nan, Bert, Flossie, and Freddie learn a lot about cowboys, ponies, steers, and raging storms.
Thomas Pynchon's longest novel to date, Against the Day (2006), excited diverse and energetic opinions when it appeared on bookstore shelves nine years after the critically acclaimed Mason & Dixon. Its wide-ranging plot covers nearly three decades-from the 1893 World's Fair to the years just after World War I-and follows hundreds of characters within its 1085 pages. Pynchon's Against the Day: A Corrupted Pilgrim's Guide offers eleven essays by established luminaries and emerging voices in the field of Pynchon criticism, each addressing a significant aspect of the novel's manifold interests. By focusing on three major thematic trajectories (the novel's narrative strategies; its commentary on science, belief, and faith; and its views on politics and economics), the contributors contend that Against the Day is not only a major addition to Pynchon's already impressive body of work but also a defining moment in the emergence of twenty-first century American literature.
The cute child - spunky, yet dependent, naughty but nice - is largely a 20th-century invention. In this book, Gary Cross examines how that look emerged in American popular culture and how the cute turned into the cool, seemingly its opposite, in stories and games.
The Bobbsey Twins are the principal characters of what was, for many years, the longest-running series of children's novels. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who where 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who where six. Share the stories of your childhood with your children and grandchildren! Here are the original Bobbsey Twin adventures.
When did maturity become the ultimate taboo? Men have gone from idolizing Cary Grant to aping Hugh Grant, shunning marriage and responsibility well into their twenties and thirties. Gary Cross, renowned cultural historian, identifies the boy-man and his habits, examining the attitudes and practices of three generations to make sense of this gradual but profound shift in American masculinity. Cross matches the rise of the American boy-man to trends in twentieth-century advertising, popular culture, and consumerism, and he locates the roots of our present crisis in the vague call for a new model of leadership that, ultimately, failed to offer a better concept of maturity.
" The Bobbsey Twins is a beloved children's book series written by Laura Lee Hope. The series revolves around the adventures of two sets of twins: Nan and Bert, the older siblings, and Flossie and Freddie, the younger siblings. The Bobbsey Twins are a loving and close-knit family, living in the bustling city of Lakeport. Throughout the series, the Bobbsey Twins find themselves in various exciting situations and mysteries to solve. From their everyday escapades at home to their travels and encounters with new friends, each story is filled with fun, curiosity, and valuable life lessons. The Bobbsey Twins' adventures take them on journeys to places like the seashore, the countryside, and even on exciting trips to distant lands. They explore nature, encounter different cultures, and learn about the world around them. The series is known for its engaging storytelling, vivid descriptions, and relatable characters. Laura Lee Hope skillfully weaves together the joys and challenges of family life, friendship, and personal growth. Young readers are captivated by the Twins' spirit of adventure, their resilience, and their ability to solve mysteries through teamwork and ingenuity. The Bobbsey Twins series has entertained generations of children, providing wholesome and enjoyable reading experiences. It celebrates the magic of childhood, the power of imagination, and the importance of love and togetherness in a family."
Examines many facets in the field of children's literature, including prominent authors, sociological attitudes, and the research into the publishing patterns of early series books.
