Charles Kingsley — The Water Babies

London and Melbourne, Ward, Lock & Co. Limited, c1920. Cloth. A very scarce edition of The Water Babies, a popular Victorian children's novel. Circa 1920 edition in original publisher's green cloth binding of The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. This edition is unillustrated, the popular and more common editions being those produced from 1922 onwards by Ward Lock & Co. with illustrations by Harry Theaker. This edition is very scarce.The children's fiction novel follows Tom, a young chimney sweep, who falls into a river and drowns. He is transformed into a 'water baby&apos. The story follows themes of Christian redemption and is also in part a satire in support of Darwin's theory of evolution. It also provides a level of social commentary.Kingsley and the novel did not age well, however, due to the story's anti-Semitic, racist and xenophobic references.Includes one coloured plate as the front piece and a colour illustration to the front board.Awarded as a prize book to Irene Carpenter in 1924 from a Sunday School, with the prize label to the recto of the first free endpaper. Includes an ink inscription of a prayer.Includes publisher's adverts to the rear endpapers. In original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, smart. Some bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities resulting in some wear. The front board is slightly marked. The hinges are starting but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Prize label and ink inscription to the recto of the first free endpaper. Pages are bright and clean. Some spotting to the endpapers and occasional spotting throughout. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .