Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre. Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
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E. B. White (American, 1899–1985, author)<br />
Garth Williams (American, 1912–1996, illustrator)<br />
Stuart Little<br />
New York & London: Harper & Bro<strong>the</strong>rs, 1945<br />
21 x 14 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.45.8775<br />
Gift of <strong>Peter</strong> J. <strong>Solomon</strong>, 2020<br />
E. B. White’s fasc<strong>in</strong>ation with mice eventually led to a literary<br />
controversy. Stuart Little began with a dream <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid-<br />
1920s, with <strong>the</strong> book com<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> 1945. The red<br />
flag appeared <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> open<strong>in</strong>g sentence: mouse Stuart was<br />
described as be<strong>in</strong>g “born” <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> human Little family, a<br />
phrase that caused widespread consternation. Significantly,<br />
<strong>the</strong> offend<strong>in</strong>g word was changed to “arrived” <strong>in</strong> later editions,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> 1999 movie opens <strong>in</strong> an orphanage.<br />
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