Evenings at Home; or, The Juvenile Budget Opened
Title page from a later edition
Author: John Aikin and Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Published: 1792-1796
Summary: a collection of stories written by the children of the fictional Fairborne family, consisting of fables, dialogues, fairy tales, etc.
Importance: intended for family reading and translated into almost every European language, Evenings had a far-reaching and long-lasting impact on children's literature in the 19th century. The great variety of forms (scientific lessons, fairy tales, poems, plays, etc.) showcased the diverse and holistic ideals of Enlightenment education, and Aikin and Barbauld's use of abstract fiction (e.g., fairy tales) separated them from other children's authors such as Sarah Trimmer. Like Newbery, they encouraged play and entertainment for the purpose of instruction (e.g., making tea as a demonstration of chemistry). They also used conversational tones between the parents and children, and emphasized the voices and experiences of children.
Volumes Three and Four Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=UCQOAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=R1EHTY69CJLYngf38rnlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Volume Five Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=F5sNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA46&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=R1EHTY69CJLYngf38rnlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Volume Six Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=KtoDAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=fFEHTcbAGomMnAeLo6HlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false
Published: 1792-1796
Summary: a collection of stories written by the children of the fictional Fairborne family, consisting of fables, dialogues, fairy tales, etc.
Importance: intended for family reading and translated into almost every European language, Evenings had a far-reaching and long-lasting impact on children's literature in the 19th century. The great variety of forms (scientific lessons, fairy tales, poems, plays, etc.) showcased the diverse and holistic ideals of Enlightenment education, and Aikin and Barbauld's use of abstract fiction (e.g., fairy tales) separated them from other children's authors such as Sarah Trimmer. Like Newbery, they encouraged play and entertainment for the purpose of instruction (e.g., making tea as a demonstration of chemistry). They also used conversational tones between the parents and children, and emphasized the voices and experiences of children.
Volumes Three and Four Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=UCQOAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=R1EHTY69CJLYngf38rnlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Volume Five Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=F5sNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA46&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=R1EHTY69CJLYngf38rnlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Volume Six Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=KtoDAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22evenings+at+home%22+barbauld&hl=en&ei=fFEHTcbAGomMnAeLo6HlDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false