These essays reexamine conventional ideas about the history of childhood, exploring the child's increasing prominence in 18th-century discourse and the establishment of the category of age as a marker of social distinction, alongside race, class and gender. The contributors, who represent the disciplines of history, literature and art, compare British, German and French conceptualizations of childhood and demonstrate the mutual influences of the Continent and Great Britain. The essays cover a wide range of subjects from scientific and educational discourses and controversies over children's legal status to the child as artist and consumer. Additionally, articles on visual cultural show how 18th-century discourse on childhood is reflected in representations of the child by illustrators and portraitists.
Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

These essays reexamine conventional ideas about the history of childhood, exploring the child's increasing prominence in 18th-century discourse and the establishment of the category of age as a marker of social distinction, alongside race, class and gender. The contributors, who represent the disciplines of history, literature and art, compare British, German and French conceptualizations of childhood and demonstrate the mutual influences of the Continent and Great Britain. The essays cover a wide range of subjects from scientific and educational discourses and controversies over children's legal status to the child as artist and consumer. Additionally, articles on visual cultural show how 18th-century discourse on childhood is reflected in representations of the child by illustrators and portraitists. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)