The Water-Babies

5W Charles Kingsley. Illustrated by Margaret W. Tarrant. London: J. M. Dent and Sons, 1934.

Notes

The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley is a 19th-century children’s novel that follows Tom, a young chimney sweep who, after a tragic accident, is transformed into a “water-baby” and begins a magical underwater journey of growth and moral discovery. Guided by whimsical creatures and stern fairies, Tom learns lessons about kindness, cleanliness, responsibility, and the consequences of cruelty—reflecting Kingsley’s concerns with social reform and Victorian morality. Blending fantasy, satire, and social criticism, the novel uses Tom’s adventures to challenge the harsh treatment of children and the poor, making it both an imaginative tale and a commentary on the society of its time.

Description

Cream pictorial cloth. With full color title page. 12 full page color plates and in-text line drawing throughout. Some rubbing to extremities and minimal foxing. No inscriptions.