Children, Childhood and Youth in the British World

Age was a critical factor in shaping imperial experience, yet it has not received any sustained scholarly attention. This pioneering interdisciplinary collection is the first to investigate the lives of children and young people and the construction of modes of childhood and youth within the British world.

“The book offers a rich and often surprising read. … Children, Childhood and Youth in the British World will be s useful resource on all courses and research programmes concerned with its central themes, to enlarge students’ and researchers’ understanding and theorising of the great historical and international diversity of experience and interpretations of British Childhoods.” (Priscilla Alderson, Children, Youth and Environments, Vol. 28 (3), 2018)“The volume makes a significant contribution in expanding our understanding of the British world that comprised of wider imperial networks and was built on mass migration of people. … it is an informative read and is replete with useful references for anyone who is interested in the history of children and youth.” (Soni, H-Soz-Kult, hsozkult.de, June, 2017)“This edited collection aims to bring together a historiography of the British world and of childhood and youth. … This volume, co-edited by Shirleene Robinson and Simon Sleight, is therefore a welcome addition to interdisciplinary debates on the history of childhood and youth … . the chapters each contain original and at times absorbing historical research that will engage historical geographers.” (Sarah Mills, Journal of Historical Geography, Vol. 56, 2017)“This fascinating collection offers exciting new knowledge about how children and childhoods were informed by and through their presence in the British world. … This collection not only provides an important intervention into discussions of colonial and imperial history as well histories of children and childhood, but should also prompt a range of new research in these areas.” (Kristine Moruzi, The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, Vol. 10 (2), 2017)“This volume is a fascinating contribution to our understanding of the experience and conception of children, childhood and youth across the British world in this period. The impressive range of contributions illuminates the diversity of children’s lives, prompts us to reconsider ideas about power and agency and highlights the exchange and flow of ideas across the global web of empire. These essays, both individually and collectively, enhance our knowledge and understanding of the histories of childhood and youth … .” (Rosie Kennedy, Reviews in History, July 14, 2016)“This collection makes interesting and important methodological contribution to the history of childhood while emphasizing the contribution of young people to broader imperial histories.” (Laura Tisdall, Social History, Vol. 41 (04), 2016)

Shurlee Swain, Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne Conway, Chestnut Hill College, USA. S.E. Duff, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Ellen Filor, Indepdendent Scholar, UK. Claire L. Halstead, University of Western Ontario, Canada. Timothy Nicholson, State University of New York at Delhi, USA. Satadru Sen, Queens College of the City of New York, USA. Mary Clare Martin, University of Greenwich, UK. Michelle J. Smith, Deakin University, Australia. Hilary Emmett, University of East Anglia, UK. Yorick Smaal, Griffith University, Australia. Melissa Bellanta, Australian Catholic University in Sydney, Australia. Ruth Colton, University of Manchester, UK. Kate Darian-Smith, University of Melbourne, Australia.