Masculinity in Children's Animal Stories, 1888-1928: A Critical Study of Anthropomorphic Tales by Wilde, Kipling, Potter, Grahame and Milne

Yarbrough (English and children's literature, U. of the District of Columbia) insists on the two categories--children's stories and animal stories--and does not consider any stories written by the authors that do not meet both criteria. During the period 1888-1928, he finds ideas about masculinity could be more freely expressed and exhibited under cover of an animal skin. He treats clusters of aspects: adventures, escapes, and violence; aestheticism, Christianity, and spirituality; reputation, hierarchy, masculine logic, law, and codes; and collaboration, compromise, and group performances. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Wynn William Yarbrough has published articles on Rudyard Kipling, Kenneth Grahame, and A.A. Milne. An assistant professor of English and children’s literature at the University of the District of Columbia, he lives in Mount Rainier, Maryland.