Charles Kingsley — The Water-Babies

London, T. Werner Laurie, 1932. Cloth. A bright copy of this classic children's tale, with vibrant illustrations from Arthur Gatlish. The first edition thus of this children's classic to feature illustrations from Arthur Gatlish. The only children's work he would illustrate. With frontispiece and a further seven unusually brightly coloured plates. Collated, complete.Charles Kingsley, priest and Christian socialist, first published this novel in its complete form in 1863. It is somewhat satirical, written in part to support Kingsley's friend Charles Darwin and his contentious work 'On the Origins of Species&apos. While thematically concerned with Christian redemption, within his book Kingsley confronts both England's treatment of its poor and the practice of child labour.With a publisher's advertisement to recto of half title. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Bumping to spine head and shelf wear to tail. Light rubbing to head of front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Arthur Gatlish. Very Good Indeed .