From innocence to experience

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For centuries, discussions surrounding children and childhood have been complex and controversial, as this concept is influenced by time, culture, and gender. This study examines the (re-)construction of childhood in nineteenth-century adult non-fiction, focusing on Victorian women’s autobiographies. Utilizing Valerie Sanders’s anthology, the analysis highlights the significant contributions of women writers to the discourse of childhood and autobiography. Childhood serves as a critical lens through which to understand key issues of the era, offering a nuanced view of the nineteenth century that complements other narrative forms, such as male and female fiction. The connections between historical phenomena and contemporary debates regarding children, family, education, and reading are also explored. This examination reveals how representations of childhood and the status of children in literature reflect significant societal concerns. The study is situated within Childhood Studies, employing various methodologies to address important issues related to childhood. It particularly focuses on the interplay between the image of the child (especially girls), conceptions of childhood, and narrative techniques. Drawing from British Literary Studies and integrating approaches such as close reading, narratology, and New Historicism, the investigation also engages with discourses in educational theory, psychology, sociology, and more, to