Figure 1.-- "Little Treasure Island - Her Story and Her Glory" was written by Arthur Mee, psometime in the 1920s.The book has many illustrations and has stirring patriotic accounts of the birth of the British Isles and of it's rich, noble and proud history. This illustration of a boy in a sailor suit is on the inside of the back cover, a heroic and inspiring picture of patriotism which is the theme of the book. Image coutesy of the AM collection. |
There have been hundreds of children's story books published in England. They cover a wide variety of themes for different age groups. They were normally richly illustrated, in some cases by some of the most acclaimed illustrators. Some story books were illustrated by the same illustrtor, others used illustrations from a variety of sources. Normally a story book had an author or group of authors, even though some involved well-known fairy tales or other stories. We have just begun to collect some of these books. Over time these storybooks provide an interesting look the world of British childhhod in various years.
A HBC reader has sent us some information about Little Treasure Island - Her Story and Her Glory. It was written by Arthur Mee, and according to the opening credits, was also the editor of The Children's Newspaper and The Children's Encyclopedia. Little Treasure Island is an intensely patriotic book no doubt intended to further national pride of the country of England. Whilst there is no publishing date, the book is dedicated as a Christmas gift 'To dear Jock, With best love and best wishes. From Uncle Alf and Auntie ???. Xmas 1927'. One assumes the book is a gift to a nephew. The book has many illustrations and has stirring patriotic accounts of the birth of the British Isles and of it's rich, noble and proud history: "Far away from the Island, out in Saskatchewan, a Red Indian schoolboy was looking at a map. They showed him the British Isles, and he looked with astonishment at the little spots. He could not believe so small a space stood for the home of the British Empire." Enclosed is an illustration from the book which is somewhat unusual for these books. The caption of the illustration says: "One of the most pathetic scenes in Shakespeare - Arthur's appeal to Hurbert. 'Will you put out mine eyes - these eyes that never did, nor never did, nor never shall, so much as frown on you?" Itwas from the painting by W. F. Yeames, R.A., now hanging in the Manchester Art Gallery.
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