Toys in the Age of Wonder: Science Fiction, Society and the Symbolism of Play (Paperback)

Toys in the Age of Wonder: Science Fiction, Society and the Symbolism of Play By Mark Rich Cover Image
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Description


By the middle 1800s, toys were appearing in forms that drew upon--and that inspired--advances in areas such as optics, biology, geography, transportation, and automation. In these decades, too, a new type of wonder tale was being brought to maturity by a Poe-inspired Jules Verne. The modern wonder tale's highly-charged vision expressed the hopes and the fears, and the delights and the traumas, engendered by "new worlds idealism"--that Western pursuit of both mechanical and geographical conquest. Exploring realms belonging to childhood, literature, science, and history, this innovative study weaves together the histories of wonder tales and children's toys, focusing specifically on their modern aspects and how they reflect and express the social attitudes of that time period beginning around 1859 and ending around 1957.

About the Author


Mark Rich has written multiple books on toys and toy history, along with numerous articles on science fiction literature. He lives in Cashton, Wisconsin.


Product Details
ISBN: 9780786443925
ISBN-10: 0786443928
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Publication Date: September 23rd, 2020
Pages: 344
Language: English