{"product_id":"the-governess-or-little-female-academy-sarah-fielding-facsimile-edition","title":"The Governess or, Little Female Academy, Sarah Fielding — Facsimile Edition","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e London, Oxford University Press, 1968\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e 8vo, pp. vii, 375.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Near Fine. The dark green cloth binding is notably sharp and immaculate, displaying tight, square corners and vividly unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine. The text block is firm and the hinges are perfectly intact, with the pages remaining clean, crisp, and entirely free of internal foxing or prior ownership inscriptions. The original paper dust jacket remains unclipped, still bearing the original '30s net' price to the front flap. It shows some moderate external wear, most notably a few distinct, dark spot stains to the fore-edge of the front panel and some very light rubbing and edge-wear to the spine ends, but it is otherwise highly presentable and fully intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This is the 1968 Oxford University Press 'Juvenile Library' facsimile reproduction of the immensely important 1749 first edition, expertly edited and featuring a comprehensive introduction and bibliography by Jill E. Grey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003eSarah Fielding’s seminal work is widely recognised by scholars as the first full-length novel explicitly written for children in the English language. Predating the Golden Age of children's literature, it functioned as the very first educational novel and school story, introducing a framework of moral instruction via fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eWhile modern print-on-demand paperbacks of this title are ubiquitous, this original 1968 Oxford clothbound edition, particularly retaining its unclipped dust jacket, is uncommon on the open market and represents an excellent reference copy for collectors of early pedagogical literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eOriginally published anonymously in 1749, \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"49\"\u003eThe Governess; or, The Little Female Academy\u003c\/i\u003e is a pioneering milestone in children's literature. Written by Sarah Fielding (sister to the celebrated novelist Henry Fielding), the story revolves around the benevolent but firm Mrs. Teachum and her nine young pupils at a provincial boarding school. Through a charming, Lockean structure of storytelling, allegorical fables, and guided Socratic discussion, the girls learn to suppress vanity, resolve their quarrels, and cultivate reason and virtue. It stands as a fascinating, foundational text that seamlessly blended amusement with moral instruction for the very first time in English literary history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54363103658323,"sku":"4688","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260717_184750.jpg?v=1784622215","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/the-governess-or-little-female-academy-sarah-fielding-facsimile-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}