Welcome to Litsy!

Published in 1749, the story of Mrs. Teachum and the nine pupils who make up her �little female academy� is widely recognized as the first full-length novel for children, and the first to be aimed specifically at girls. The daily experiences of Mrs. Teachum�s charges are interwoven with fables and fairy tales illustrating the book�s underlying principles, which draw on contemporary theories of education and virtue. As central to the history of the novel as it is to the development of children�s literature, The Governess is a pioneering work by one of the eighteenth century�s most respected women writers. This Broadview edition includes a critical introduction that places The Governess in its cultural and literary context; appendices include examples of eighteenth-century educational literature and selections from Fielding�s correspondence.