The Boy Detective in Early British Childrens Literature

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Focusing on the evolution of the boy detective in British children's literature, this book examines the character's role as a reflection of adult anxieties regarding boyhood and the transition to manhood from the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth century. It analyzes the significance of detective narratives in 'penny dreadfuls' and story papers targeted at working-class boys, exploring how these stories shaped societal expectations and ideals of masculinity during a pivotal time for the British Empire. This study is essential for scholars in children's literature, crime fiction, and popular culture.