Famous Stories Every Child Should Know: A Selection of the Best Stories of All Times for Young People

by Hamilton Wright Mabie (Editor)

1913. Decorated by Blanche Ostertag. Mabie, was an editor of The Independent, lecturer, and prolific author of volumes of essays. Mabie writes in the Introduction that: The group of stories brought together in this volume differ from legends because they have, with one exception, no core of fact at the center, from myths because they make no attempt to personify or explain the forces or processes of nature, from fairy stories because they do not often bring on to the stage actors of a different nature from ours. The stories which make up this volume are closer to experience and come, for the most part, nearer to the everyday happenings of life. Contributors to this popular anthology include Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edward Everett Hale and others. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Childrens

Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Hamilton Wright Mabie, A.M., L.H.D., LL.D. (1846–1916) was an American essayist, editor, critic, and lecturer.

Reviews

[R.J. Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look into the literature of our children more than a century ago. I find it interesting that many of these stories are not “Happily ever after” fairy tales, but have a deeper meaning to them right below the surface.

One thing to note is that a lot of words used in these stories have since either changed meaning or been reduced to obscurity by our modern vocabulary. Odd that this used to be something that children would have been expected to understand, and now I, having read many an old book with similar language, find it work to read this as an adult.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of eleven stories published in the early 1900s provide examples of what literature was deemed appropriate and morally uplifting for children of that era. Although several stories are by "classic" authors such as Dickens and Hawthorne others are lesser known. My favorite was #9, "The Nürnberg Stove" by Louise dela Rameé. Not recommended for the child of today. Check status updates for contents and comments.

[Teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am reading this book through DailyLit.com

It's very interesting to see what was considered required for children almost 100 years ago. The first story deals directly with death and the 'need' for this obviously stems from the fact that many children died when they were young.