National character in South African English children's literature

Elwyn Jenkins

"This book explores the growth of a national children's literature in English in South Africa. Drawing on post-colonial theory and children's literature scholarship, Elwyn Jenkins illuminates issues of race and representation while tracing how the English-language tradition in South African children's literature attempted to merge British and South African cultures." "This is the first full-length study of South African English youth literature to cover the entire period of its publication, from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. What gives this book particular strength is its coverage of literature up to the 1960s, which has until now recieved almost no scholarly attention. Not only is this earlier literature a rewarding subject for study in itself, but it also throws light on subsequent literary developments. Jenkins also makes comparisons with American, Canadian and Australian children's literature. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand children's literature in the context of adult South African literature and South African cultural history."--book jacket.