Abstract
During the twentieth century juvenilia received increasing critical attention. This provided a rise in the literary status of writing by children. However, even now, in the twenty-first century, it remains one of the more neglected literary forms. This thesis adds to the growing body of literature recognising juvenilia as an authentic literary genre, worthy of the critic's attention.
Two key ~underline this thesis: firstly, juvenilia can be of importance to the scholar in their own right whether this Is due to their social and/or political impact, their influence on other authors, their development of a literary style or methodology, or the merit of their aesthetic quality -a variety of issues examined in chapters focussing on Marla Edgeworth, William Ainsworth, George Eliot and Emily Bronte. Secondly, juvenilia are precursors to the adult writing of the examined authors, with many of the advances to their writing that are the subject of praise in their adult work having been established long before in their juvenilia. This is demonstrated in representative early works by the same authors, examined alongside their later novels. An Appendix of Edgeworth's unpublished play The Double Disguise Is also included.
These are not entirely new contentions, but, notwithstanding some attention from a handful of scholars, little research has been done to confirm and demonstrate their merit. This thesis suggests that critics should evaluate an author's body of work as an "entire entity" rather than confining their research to the author's mature writing. To dismiss something just because it is titled "juvenilia" is to dismiss a major part of the author's development and literary career.