Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000
Hans Heino Ewers (Editor), Rita Ghesquiere (Editor), Pat Pinsent (Editor), Rita Quaghebeur (Editor), Michel Manson (Editor),
In this book some 25 scholars focus on the relationship between religion, children’s literature and modernity in Western Europe since the Enlightenment (c. 1750). They examine various aspects of the phenomenon of children’s literature, such as types of texts, age of readers, position of authors, design and illustration. The role of religion in giving meaning both in a substantive sense as well as through the institutionalised churches is studied from an interdenominational point of view (Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Anglicanism). Finally, the contribution of pedagogy and child psychology in the interaction between modernity, religion and children’s literature is also discussed.
Various articles give a broad overview of the tensions between aesthetics and ethics and the demand for cultural autonomy in the development of children’s literature. Children’s bibles and missionary stories played an important part in the growing diversification of children’s literature, as did the publication of illustrated reviews for children. Remarkable differences are highlighted in the involvement of religious societies and institutions, episcopally approved publishing houses and supervisory bodies in the publication, distribution and supervision of children’s literature. This volume adopts a comparative approach in exploring the underlying religious, ideological and cultural dimensions of children’s literature in modern society.
Introduction
Jan De Maeyer, Hans-Heino Ewers, Rita Ghesquière, Michel Manson, Pat Pinsent & Patricia Quaghebeur
PART I. RELIGION AND CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: THE PROCESS OF MODERNISATION
The Concept of Religious Modernisation
Jan De Maeyer
From Enlightened Tutelage to Means of Emancipation. The Educational Function of Catholic Children’s and Youth Literature in Flanders in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Ria Christens, Marc Depaepe & Mark D’hoker
Children’s Literature as an Arena for Religious Conflicts in Austria (1780-1830)
Ernst Seibert
Catholic and Protestant Children’s Literature and the Process of Modernisation in Switzerland and Germany in the 19th Century
Verena Rutschmann
Religion, German Jewish Children’s and Youth Literature and Modernity
Annegret Völpel
The Varieties of British Protestant Children’s Fiction. Severe Moralising versus Flight of Fancy
Pat Pinsent
British Catholic Children’s Fiction between Vatican I and Vatican II
Pat Pinsent
Religion: Overtones and Undertones in Irish Children’s Books
Valerie Coghlan
Children’s Literature, Religion and Modernity in the Latin Countries (France, Italy, Spain)
Michel Manson
Catholic Children’s Literature in Italy in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Renata Lollo
Religious Children’s Literature in Spain
Celia Vazquez Garcia and Veljka Ruzicka Kenfel
PART II. GENRES, LITERARY THEORY, DEBATES AND SYSTEMS OF INSPECTION
Protestantism and Modernisation in German Children’s Literature of the Late 18th Century
Gottfried Adam
The Attraction of the Picture. The Iconography of Children’s Versions of the Bible in 19th and 20th-Century France
Isabelle Saint-Martin
Protestant Pedagogy and the Visual Culture of the London Missionary Society
Sandy Brewer
The Missionary Novel: a Modern Medium for an Anti-Modern Message. The Belgian Case: a Comparative Analysis
Carine Dujardin
Religious Literature and Modernity. A German Controversy about the Criticism of Children’s Literature around 1900
Hans-Heino Ewers
The Loss of the Father and the Loss of God in English-Language Children’s Literature (1800-2000)
Peter Hunt
Hidden Religious Themes in 20th-Century European Children’s Literature
Rita Ghesquière
The Supervision of Children’s Literature during the Interwar Period: The Case of Boekengids (1923-1930)
Dirk De Geest
Supervising Children’s Literature in the Netherlands, ca. 1880-1940
Jacques Dane
Catholic Criticism of Children’s Literature at the Beginning of the 20th Century in France
Annie Renonciat
The Contribution of Jeanne Cappe to the Revue Littérature de Jeunesse (1949-1955/1976)
Michel Defourny
PART III. PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION
Between Evangelisation and Economy. A Profile of Averbode Publishers (1920-2000)
Rita Ghesquière
The Trinity in Educational Publishing. The Constant Factors in the History of the Dutch Catholic Publishing Houses Zwijsen and Malmberg
Karen Ghonem-Woets and Piet Moeren
The Editorial Strategies of Provincial Catholic Publishing Houses for the Young in the 19th Century in France
Michel Manson
The Gaume Press. Catholic Books for Young People during the 19th Century
Daniel Moulinet
Catholic Publishing Houses for Children in France since 1945. Editor’s Strategies and Discourse
Michèle Piquard
The Girl’s Own Paper (1880-1956). A Protestant Magazine
Mary Cadogan
Bibliography
Index of Persons
Notes on Contributors
Indeed, 'Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750 to 2000' is groundbreaking, establishing a beachhead for more research. The lines are drawn by each author’s contribution, but the European landscape upon which they rest, demands substantial comparative perspective for which this tome is the quintessential, if not seminal watershed for this type of foray into a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field. The individual contributions attest to this feat, even though they were published fifteen years ago.Hérubel, JP.V.M., Pub Res Q 37, 117–118 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-021-09793-x
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000" about?
In this book some 25 scholars focus on the relationship between religion, children's literature and modernity in Western Europe since the Enlightenment (c. 1750). They examine various aspects of the phenomenon of children's literature, such as types of texts, age of readers, position of authors, design and illustration. The role of religion in giving meaning both in a substantive sense as well as through the institutionalised churches is studied from an interdenominational point of view (Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Anglicanism). Finally, the contribution of pedagogy and child psychology in the interaction between modernity, religion and children's literature is also discussed.
Various articles give a broad overview of the tensions between aesthetics and ethics and the demand for cultural autonomy in the development of children's literature. Children's bibles and missionary stories played an important part in the growing diversification of children's literature, as did the publication of illustrated reviews for children. Remarkable differences are highlighted in the involvement of religious societies and institutions, episcopally approved publishing houses and supervisory bodies in the publication, distribution and supervision of children's literature. This volume adopts a comparative approach in exploring the underlying religious, ideological and cultural dimensions of children's literature in modern society.
Who edited "Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000"?
"Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000" was edited by Hans Heino Ewers, Rita Ghesquiere, Pat Pinsent, Rita Quaghebeur and Michel Manson.
Is "Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000" part of a series?
Yes, "Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000" is part of the "KADOC-Studies on Religion, Culture and Society" series. It's book 3 in the series.
The longstanding peer-reviewed book series KADOC Studies in Religion, Culture and Society is devoted to a deeper understanding of the role of religion(s) in society in Europe and the world since 1750. By means of monographs and edited volumes, the series explores thematic frontiers and embraces innovative methodological approaches in historical, sociological and anthropological scholarship on religion, culture and society. The series particularly welcomes manuscripts adopting interreligious and transnational perspectives. Taken together, KADOC Studies in Religion, Culture and Society and its companion series KADOC Artes represent a diptych featuring the immaterial and material legacies of religions in Europe and the world from the 18th century onwards.
KADOC Studies in Religion, Culture and Society is managed by an independent Editorial Board. Books are published in English. Open Access publishing is encouraged. Financial support will be examined on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the author.
KADOC, the Interfaculty Documentation and Research Centre on Religion, Culture and Society at KU Leuven, is an internationally oriented interdisciplinary research center as well as a heritage institution recognized by the Flemish Government with particularly rich and diverse documentary holdings.
Editorial board
Elena Arigita Maza (Universidad de Granada)
Florian Bock (Ruhr Universität Bochum)
Timothy Brittain‐Catlin (University of Cambridge)
James Chappel (Duke University)
Kim Christiaens (KADOC-KU Leuven)
Kathleen James-Chakraborty (University College Dublin)
James Kennedy (Utrecht University)
Franziska Metzger (PH Luzern)
Patrick Pasture (MoSa‐KU Leuven) - chairman
Isabelle Saint‐Martin (EPHE Paris)
Thijl Sunier (VU Amsterdam)
Árpád von Klimó (Catholic University of America)
Veerle De Laet (Leuven University Press)
Peter Heyrman (KADOC-KU Leuven) - secretary
Proposals
Proposals and enquiries can be sent to Peter Heyrman. The series welcomes monographs and edited volumes. Book proposals may relate to, for example, the political impact of religion, the dynamics between religion and welfare, and missionary history. All proposals and manuscripts are subject to double blind peer review involving at least one external reviewer (proposals) or at least two (manuscripts). The editors strive towards completing the review of proposals within two months and of complete manuscripts within five months after submission.
Please make use of the submission form to present your manuscript or proposal to our board.
Authors interested in Open Access can consult the available funding options.
Links & Resources
What is the Table of Contents for "Religion, Children’s Literature and Modernity in Western Europe 1750-2000"?
Introduction
Jan De Maeyer, Hans-Heino Ewers, Rita Ghesquière, Michel Manson, Pat Pinsent & Patricia Quaghebeur
PART I. RELIGION AND CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: THE PROCESS OF MODERNISATION
The Concept of Religious Modernisation
Jan De Maeyer
From Enlightened Tutelage to Means of Emancipation. The Educational Function of Catholic Children's and Youth Literature in Flanders in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Ria Christens, Marc Depaepe & Mark D'hoker
Children's Literature as an Arena for Religious Conflicts in Austria (1780-1830)
Ernst Seibert
Catholic and Protestant Children's Literature and the Process of Modernisation in Switzerland and Germany in the 19th Century
Verena Rutschmann
Religion, German Jewish Children's and Youth Literature and Modernity
Annegret Völpel
The Varieties of British Protestant Children's Fiction. Severe Moralising versus Flight of Fancy
Pat Pinsent
British Catholic Children's Fiction between Vatican I and Vatican II
Pat Pinsent
Religion: Overtones and Undertones in Irish Children's Books
Valerie Coghlan
Children's Literature, Religion and Modernity in the Latin Countries (France, Italy, Spain)
Michel Manson
Catholic Children's Literature in Italy in the 19th and 20th Centuries
Renata Lollo
Religious Children's Literature in Spain
Celia Vazquez Garcia and Veljka Ruzicka Kenfel
PART II. GENRES, LITERARY THEORY, DEBATES AND SYSTEMS OF INSPECTION
Protestantism and Modernisation in German Children's Literature of the Late 18th Century
Gottfried Adam
The Attraction of the Picture. The Iconography of Children's Versions of the Bible in 19th and 20th-Century France
Isabelle Saint-Martin
Protestant Pedagogy and the Visual Culture of the London Missionary Society
Sandy Brewer
The Missionary Novel: a Modern Medium for an Anti-Modern Message. The Belgian Case: a Comparative Analysis
Carine Dujardin
Religious Literature and Modernity. A German Controversy about the Criticism of Children's Literature around 1900
Hans-Heino Ewers
The Loss of the Father and the Loss of God in English-Language Children's Literature (1800-2000)
Peter Hunt
Hidden Religious Themes in 20th-Century European Children's Literature
Rita Ghesquière
The Supervision of Children's Literature during the Interwar Period: The Case of Boekengids (1923-1930)
Dirk De Geest
Supervising Children's Literature in the Netherlands, ca. 1880-1940
Jacques Dane
Catholic Criticism of Children's Literature at the Beginning of the 20th Century in France
Annie Renonciat
The Contribution of Jeanne Cappe to the Revue Littérature de Jeunesse (1949-1955/1976)
Michel Defourny
PART III. PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION
Between Evangelisation and Economy. A Profile of Averbode Publishers (1920-2000)
Rita Ghesquière
The Trinity in Educational Publishing. The Constant Factors in the History of the Dutch Catholic Publishing Houses Zwijsen and Malmberg
Karen Ghonem-Woets and Piet Moeren
The Editorial Strategies of Provincial Catholic Publishing Houses for the Young in the 19th Century in France
Michel Manson
The Gaume Press. Catholic Books for Young People during the 19th Century
Daniel Moulinet
Catholic Publishing Houses for Children in France since 1945. Editor's Strategies and Discourse
Michèle Piquard
The Girl's Own Paper (1880-1956). A Protestant Magazine
Mary Cadogan
Bibliography
Index of Persons
Notes on Contributors
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