Writing is child's play

04 November 2005

The latest volume from Juvenilia Press, Charlotte Bronte's Tales of the Islanders Vol.4, was launched at the UNSW Bookshop last night (Thursday 3 October).

Edited by Professor Christine Alexander from the School of English and several postgraduate students this volume was the thirty-sixth to be published by the Press.

"Charlotte Bronte was fourteen years old when she finished this last volume of Tales of the Islanders, based on one of the Bronte children's earliest games," said Professor Alexander, the Director of Juvenilia Press. "The Press promotes the study of literary juvenilia, a category of literature that has been largely neglected."

Based in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Juvenilia Press has an international team of contributing editors from Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and Australia. The volumes are early writings by children and adolescents including published and unpublished works chiefly by those who became professional writers. Each volume is devoted to a specific author and edited by an expert in the field, with the assistance of one or more postgraduate students who learn editing skills.

"By contributing to the recovery, publication and critical exploration of childhood writings, Juvenilia Press actively promotes literary research and the professional development of students," said Professor Alexander.

Tales of the Islanders Vol. 4 by Charlotte Bronte was launched by Professor James Donald, the Associate Dean of Education for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.