The Governess by Sarah Fielding

The Governess by Sarah Fielding

Published in 1749, the story of Mrs. Teachum and the nine pupils who make up her "little female academy" is widely recognized as the first full-length novel for children, and the first to be aimed specifically at girls. The daily experiences of Mrs. Teachum's charges are interwoven with fables and fairy tales illustrating the book's underlying principles, which draw on contemporary theories of education and virtue. As central to the history of the novel as it is to the development of children's literature, The Governessis a pioneering work by one of the eighteenth century's most respected women writers.

This Broadview edition includes a critical introduction that places The Governessin its cultural and literary context; appendices include examples of eighteenth-century educational literature and selections from Fielding's correspondence.