Children have always had a key place in society because they are the most basic forms of human beings and the future of the world. The perception and value of child figure differ in various periods, spaces and cultures. They have been believed to represent innocence and goodness as well as human cruelty and evil in different geographies at different historical periods. They have been not only the victims of atrocities such as wars, domestic violence and discrimination and also sometimes the perpetrators of violence such as bullying, taking part in military combats. Based on the idea that representations are neither predetermined nor fixed, this book presents a comprehensive representation of children and childhood in English and American literature, enabling readers to put both the portrayals in this book and recent discussions about children into context. This book also recognizes and supports different perspectives of children and childhood and engages with ongoing and new debates in literature.
