Abstract
This essay examines the availability of books for a child audience in eighteenth-century Ireland. It was at this period that children were targeted in the marketing of books, and advertising was aimed specifically at them. The child became a consumer and was in a position to influence what was purchased. Illustration became an important element of books for children. Contacts with English and continental publishers ensured a varied range of books for Irish children. Important publishers, such as John Newbery or William Darton, supplied Irish booksellers. Children’s reading was subject to adult approval, but many authors and educators aimed to combine education with entertainment to interest children. Children found pleasure in their reading and writers have recalled this delight in letters and memoirs.
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Notes
- 1.
M. Nikolajeva (ed.), Aspects and issues in the history of children’s literature, (Westport, CT, 1995), p. ix.
- 2.
A. McManus, The Irish hedge school and its books, 1695‒1831 (Dublin, 2002).
- 3.
R. Gillespie, ‘The book trade in southern Ireland, 1590–1640’ in Gerard Long (ed.), Books beyond the Pale: aspects of the provincial book trade in Ireland before 1850 (Dublin, 1996), pp. 1–17.
- 4.
Chapbook titles were collected by the bibliographer, E.R. McClintock Dix, and form part of the collections at the National Library of Ireland and Dublin City Public Libraries.
- 5.
R. Loeber and M. Stouthamer-Loeber, ‘Fiction available to and written for cottagers and their children’ in B. Cunningham and M. Kennedy (eds), The experience of reading: Irish historical perspectives (Dublin, 1999), pp. 124–72.
- 6.
First report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry (Dublin, 1825), Appendix 221, pp. 553–61.
- 7.
S.M. Parkes, Kildare Place: history of the Church of Ireland Training College 1811–1969 (Dublin, 1984).
- 8.
Trinity College Dublin, MS 10,314, Graisberry ledger (1777–1785), 9 August 1777; 14 April 1781.
- 9.
M. Pollard, A dictionary of members of the Dublin book trade 1550–1800 (London, 2000). TCD: MS 10,314, Graisberry ledger, pp. 106–107.
- 10.
M. Kinnell, ‘Publishing for children 1700–1780’ in Peter Hunt (ed.), Children’s literature: an illustrated history (Oxford, 1995), p. 34.
- 11.
L. Darton, The Dartons: an annotated check-list of children’s books issued by two publishing houses 1787–1876 (New Castle, DE, 2004), Preface, p. xii.
- 12.
Kinnell, Publishing for children, p. 28.
- 13.
Hibernian Chronicle (20 August 1770); (2 January 1772); (16 April 1772); (20 April 1772); (24 December 1772); (4 January 1773).
- 14.
Hibernian Chronicle (2 January 1772).
- 15.
Hibernian Chronicle (16 April 1772); (20 April 1772).
- 16.
It was reprinted in Dublin in 1749, 1752 and 1791, and in Belfast in 1779.
- 17.
Hibernian Chronicle (25 December 1769).
- 18.
Daniel Defoe, The whole life and strange surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner, written by himself (Dublin: George Golding and Isaac Jackson, 1744).
- 19.
Daniel Defoe, The adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Dundalk: Joseph Parks, c.1820).
- 20.
The Lilliputian Library, or Gulliver’s museum, 10 vols (Dublin: Sheppard and Nugent, and John Parker, 1782; 2nd edn, 1788).
- 21.
Lilliputian Library, advertisement, p. [1].
- 22.
Pollard, Dictionary.
- 23.
Isaac Jackson was in business from 1737 until his death in 1772. Robert Jackson joined his father in business in 1769 and worked until his own death in 1793.
- 24.
Rachel Maria Jackson wrote to William Darton, the Quaker bookseller in London, for advice before appointing Gough; see Pollard, Dictionary.
- 25.
Darton and later Darton and Harvey were major players in the publication of children’s books and engraved puzzles.
- 26.
William Darton, Little truths better than great fables: containing information on divers subjects, for the instruction of children, 3rd edn (Dublin: John Gough, 1796).
- 27.
Darton, The Dartons, p. xxi; L. Murray, The power of religion on the mind, 7th edn (Dublin: John Gough, 1795); A key to the exercises adapted to L. Murray’s English Grammar, 3rd edn (Dublin: John Gough, 1798); The English reader: or, pieces in prose and poetry, 3rd edn (Dublin: John Gough, 1799).
- 28.
Pastoral lessons, and parental conversations: intended as a companion to Barbauld’s hymns in prose (Dublin: John Gough, 1798). The Dublin City Library copy of Gough’s Pastoral Lessons was presented as a premium at Christmas examinations to Abraham Chatterton at Midleton School, County Cork, 18 December 1800. The volume contains a prize label and the crest of the school is stamped in gilt on both covers.
- 29.
Hibernian Journal (28 November 1794); Cork Advertiser (3 August 1799).
- 30.
Moral and entertaining tales for children (Dublin: John Gough, 1795).
- 31.
Thomas Day, The history of Sandford and Merton. A work intended for the use of children, 2 vols (Belfast: Daniel Blow, 1787); (Belfast: William Magee, 1791; 1797). A collection of linked stories, it was first published in three parts in 1783, 1786 and 1789.
- 32.
The history of Harry Spencer; compiled for the amusement of good children; and the instruction of such as wish to become good (Dublin: John Gough, 1794; 2nd edn, 1797).
- 33.
Pastoral lessons, final page.
- 34.
John Aikin, The natural history of the year. Being an enlargement of Dr Aikin’s calendar of nature, by Arthur Aikin (Dublin: John Gough, 1799).
- 35.
English translations were printed in Dublin in 1725, 1756, 1764, 1769, 1772, 1777, 1791, 1792 and 1793, while French-language editions appeared in 1756, 1775, 1783, 1794 and 1800. In Cork, an English translation was printed in 1767 and a dual-language edition in 1800.
- 36.
Alain-René Lesage, Les aventures de Gil Blas de Santillane (Dublin: Chez Jean Exshaw, 1763); (Dublin: de l’imprimerie de Jean Exshaw, 1784); (Dublin: de l’imprimerie de Jean Exshaw, 1796).
- 37.
Luke White, A catalogue of curious and valuable books (Dublin: 1782), p. 126; The complete Dublin catalogue of books (Dublin, 1786).
- 38.
Alfred Clemens Baumgärtner, ‘The road to the juvenile book of the present: history of children’s and juvenile literature in Germany’ in Alfred Clemens Baumgärtner (ed.), The German book for children and juveniles, (Velber, 1974), p. 12.
- 39.
Joachim Heinrich Campe, The new Robinson Crusoe; an instructive and entertaining history, for the use of children of both sexes. Translated from the French (Dublin: W. Colles, 1789).
- 40.
The complete Dublin catalogue of books (Dublin: 1786).
- 41.
Anna Millikin, Corfe castle (Cork: James Haly, 1793); Eva (Cork: John Connor, 1795); Plantagenet; or secrets of the House of Anjou (Cork: John Connor, 1802); The rival chiefs; or, the battle of Mere (Cork: John Connor, 1804). See M. Kennedy, ‘Women and reading in eighteenth-century Ireland’ in The experience of reading, pp. 78–98.
- 42.
Hibernian Chronicle (26 August 1793).
- 43.
Anna Millikin, An epitome of ancient history, designed for the use of her pupils (Cork: Edwards and Savage, 1808).
- 44.
Maria Edgeworth, The parent’s assistant; or, stories for children (Cork, George Cherry, 1800).
- 45.
Oliver Goldsmith, Le curé de Wakefield (Dublin: G. Gilbert, 1797).
- 46.
Wetenhall Wilkes, A letter of genteel and moral advice to a young lady (Dublin: E. Jones, 1740), p. 105.
- 47.
Marie-Louise Legg (ed.), The Synge letters: Bishop Edward Synge to his daughter Alicia, Roscommon to Dublin 1746–1752 (Dublin, 1996), p. 210.
- 48.
John Locke, Some thoughts concerning education (Dublin: R. Reilly, 1738), p. 165.
- 49.
Samuel Whyte, An introductory essay on the art of reading and speaking in public (Dublin: Robert Marchbank, 1800), p. 42.
- 50.
Robert Dodsley, The preceptor: containing a general course of education, wherein the first principles of polite learning are laid down in a way most suitable for trying the genius, and advancing the instruction of youth (London, 1748; Dublin: George Faulkner, 1749), preface.
- 51.
Dodsley, Preceptor, p. 2.
- 52.
Wilkes, Letter of genteel and moral advice, p. 97.
- 53.
A museum for young gentlemen and ladies (Dublin: James Hoey, 1779), p. 6.
- 54.
Dublin City Library and Archive: Dublin Collection MS 2. Expenses for Eliza White’s education, 1812‒1827, manuscript notebook.
- 55.
Jonah Barrington, Personal sketches of his own times, 3rd edn, 2 vols (London, 1869), vol. 1, p. 2.
- 56.
Barrington, Personal sketches, p. 32.
- 57.
Dorothea Herbert, Retrospections, 2 vols (London, 1929‒1930), vol. 1, p. 35.
- 58.
Herbert, Retrospections, vol. 1, p. 16.
- 59.
F.V. Barry, Maria Edgeworth: chosen letters (London: 1931), p. 60.
- 60.
William Carleton, The life of William Carleton, 2 vols (London, 1896), vol. 1, p. 125.
Selected Bibliography
Barry, F.V., Maria Edgeworth: chosen letters (London: Jonathan Cape, 1931).
Baumgärtner, Alfred Clemens (ed.), The German book for children and juveniles (Velber: Friedrich Verlag, 1974).
Cunningham, B. and M. Kennedy (eds), The experience of reading: Irish historical perspectives (Dublin: Rare Books Group of Library Association of Ireland and Economic and Social History Society of Ireland, 1999).
Darton, L., The Dartons: an annotated check-list of children’s books issued by two publishing houses 1787‒1876 (New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2004).
Gillespie, R.,‘The book trade in southern Ireland, 1590‒1640’ in Gerard Long (ed.), Books beyond the Pale: aspects of the provincial book trade in Ireland before 1850 (Dublin: Rare Books Group of the Library Association of Ireland, 1996).
Herbert, D., Retrospections, 2 vols (London: G. Howe, 1929‒1930).
Kennedy, M., ‘Women and reading in eighteenth-century Ireland’ in B. Cunningham and M. Kennedy (eds), The experience of reading: Irish historical perspectives (Dublin: Rare Books Group of the Library Association of Ireland and Economic and Social History Society of Ireland, 1999), pp. 78‒98.
Kinnell, M., ‘Publishing for children 1700‒1780’ in Peter Hunt (ed.), Children’s literature: an illustrated history (Oxford: OUP, 1995).
Legg, Marie-Louise (ed.), The Synge letters: Bishop Edward Synge to his daughter Alicia, Roscommon to Dublin 1746‒1752 (Dublin: Lilliput Press, 1996).
Loeber, R. and M. Stouthamer-Loeber, ‘Fiction available to and written for cottagers and their children’ in B. Cunningham and M. Kennedy (eds), The experience of reading: Irish historical perspectives (Dublin: Rare Books Group of the Library Association of Ireland and Economic and Social History Society of Ireland, 1999), pp. 124‒72.
McManus, A., The Irish hedge school and its books, 1695‒1831 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2002).
Nikolajeva, M. (ed.), Aspects and issues in the history of children’s literature (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995).
Parkes, S.M., Kildare Place: history of the Church of Ireland Training College 1811‒1969 (Dublin: CICE, 1984).
Pollard, M., A dictionary of members of the Dublin book trade 1550‒1800: based on the records of the Guild of St Luke the Evangelist Dublin (London: Bibliographical Society, 2000).
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Kennedy, M. (2017). Instruction with Delight: Evidence of Children as Readers in Eighteenth-Century Ireland from the Collections of Dublin City Library and Archive. In: O'Sullivan, K., Whyte, P. (eds) Children's Literature Collections. Critical Approaches to Children's Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59757-1_2
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