11.7 The Reading Girl (up to 1860)

25m · Her Half of History · 09 Nov 06:00

Is there anything better than books? Today I’m not talking about the compulsory part of books at school (that’s a later episode in this series), I’m talking about reading for the love it. Reading because as Meg Ryan's character said in You've Got Mail, “When you read a book as a child, it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” Most historical girls were illiterate, unfortunately, but even for those who could read, the growth of literature intended for them was slow. Early books tended to be (1) educational or (2) religious or (3) manuals on good manners ("laugh thou not too loud nor yawn thou not too wide"). In the 18th century, publisher John Newbery (later to have a children's book award named after him) began specializing in books for children, and he tried to make them fun. It was a revolutionary idea that would only gain speed in the early 19th century. Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Support the show on myPatreonpage for bonus episodes, polls, and a general feeling of self-satisfaction. Or make a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee. JoinInto History(intohistory.com/herhalfofhistory/) for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit Evergreen Podcasts to listen to more great shows. Follow me on Twitter (X) as@her_half. Or onFacebookorInstagramas Her Half of History.

The episode 11.7 The Reading Girl (up to 1860) from the podcast Her Half of History has a duration of 25:11. It was first published 09 Nov 06:00. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.