Helen's Babies (novel)
Encyclopedia
Helen's Babies is a humorous novel by American journalist and author John Habberton
, first published in 1876.
The book's full title is: Helen's Babies: With Some Account of Their Ways Innocent, Crafty, Angelic, Impish, Witching, and Repulsive, Also, a Partial Record of Their Actions During Ten Days of Their Existence.
In its early editions the author was noted anonymously as "By Their Latest Victim".
included an essay on Helen's Babies in his collection Generally Speaking.
The book is cited in George Orwell
's 1945 essay "Good Bad Books
" as an example of "the kind of book that has no literary pretensions but which remains readable when more serious productions have perished." It is also discussed by Orwell in his 1946 essay "Riding Down from Bangor
".
.
John Habberton
John Habberton was an American author. He spent nearly twenty years as the literary and drama critic for the New York Herald, but he is best known for his stories about early California life, many of which were collected in his 1880 book Romance of California Life: Illustrated by Pacific Slope...
, first published in 1876.
The book's full title is: Helen's Babies: With Some Account of Their Ways Innocent, Crafty, Angelic, Impish, Witching, and Repulsive, Also, a Partial Record of Their Actions During Ten Days of Their Existence.
In its early editions the author was noted anonymously as "By Their Latest Victim".
Criticism
G. K. ChestertonG. K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
included an essay on Helen's Babies in his collection Generally Speaking.
The book is cited in George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
's 1945 essay "Good Bad Books
Good Bad Books
"Good Bad Books" is an essay by George Orwell first published in Tribune on 2 November 1945. After Orwell's death, the essay was republished in Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays ....
" as an example of "the kind of book that has no literary pretensions but which remains readable when more serious productions have perished." It is also discussed by Orwell in his 1946 essay "Riding Down from Bangor
Riding Down from Bangor
Riding Down from Bangor is an essay published in 1946 by the English author George Orwell. In it, he muses on 19th century American children's literature and the type of society it portrayed.-Background:...
".
Film version
Helen's Babies was adapted into a film of the same name in 1924, directed by William A. SeiterWilliam A. Seiter
William A. Seiter was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy...
.