Young Irelands
Studies in children's literature
Mary Shine Thompson, editor
‘The thirteen essays in Young Irelands examine how a selection of texts read by children and adults (Irish and non-Irish), from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, reflect, challenge or elide concepts of Irish national or imperial identity … This is an important collection of essays, which highlights the complexities of Ireland’s identity, especially in terms of how it is constructed and deconstructed in writings for children … this collection is both compelling and significant. Most importantly, it manages to fill gaps in recent criticism of Irish children’s literature', Keith O'Sullivan, Irish Literary Supplement (Fall 2013).
‘Young Irelands is the fourth book in a fairly new series, Studies in Children’s Literature … all four volumes are worth reading, especially for American children’s literature scholars who may well be largely unaware of the rich and vibrant field of Irish children’s literature and its associated scholarship … the volume as a whole is well written, easy to understand (with little jargon to interfere with the clarity of the writing) and very informative … the person who reads them will come away with an understanding of the depth and texture of both the literature and the criticism. Children’s literature programs everywhere should make sure to include this book (as well as the previous three in the series) in their university libraries, and serious scholars of nineteenth- and twentieth-century children’s literature will want copies for themselves', C.W. Sullivan III, Children’s Literature Association Quarterly (Spring 2013).
‘The essays in this collection offer some very interesting insights into Irish children’s literature and, just as importantly, suggest a number of possible directions for further studies in Irish children’s literature and its production and dissemination … the essays also contribute to wider discussions about the figure of the child and nationhood in general', Anthony Pavlik, Bookbird (2013).
