A Secure World of Childhood: The Artistry of Elizabeth Enright

• Published in: Children's literature (Storrs, Conn.) Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 235 - 253
• Main Authors: Stahl, J. D, Attebery, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 2015
• Subjects: Adults; American literature; Children & youth; Childrens literature; Essays; Fiction; Folk Culture; Folklore; German language; Interpersonal Relationship; Literary criticism; Literary Genres; Literary translation; Novels; Reading; Twain, Mark (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) (1835-1910); Writers; Writing
• ISSN: 0092-8208; 1543-3374; 1543-3374
• DOI: 10.1353/chl.2015.0023

Stahl's way of integrating biography, close reading and thematic analysis invites us to go back to Enright's novels-the Melendy books, the Newbery-Award winning Thimble Summer, the two stories of decay and renewal in an abandoned resort known as Gone-Away Lake-and quietly suggests ways to pay attention to their artistry as well as their charm. [...]he adds just the right piece of information about the artist's life or other work; in this case, especially Enright's writing for adult audiences, which most readers of her children's books have probably not encountered. Stahl, who translated works of German folklore scholarship, wrote a book about Mark Twain's immersion in culture, and created a course on myth and folklore for the Graduate Program in Children's Literature at Hollins University, was deeply interested in traditional customs and modes of expression.