Telling Bridget's tale of hunger: Children's literature of the Great Irish Famine

Children's literature of the Great Irish Famine is the focus of this study, which surveyed and analyzed the fictional books portraying the Irish Famine to young people. In one hundred and fifty-five potential years of authorship, it appears that only thirty eight authors throughout the world have featured the Famine in juvenile literature. The research reveals a scarcity of works and outlines the reasons for this.;The project first examines the significance of the Great Famine in Irish history and the value of juvenile historical fiction depicting the catastrophic event. There are numerous educational and social reasons the Irish Famine should be studied and reflected upon by young people. It is argued here that fictional works presenting the Great Famine are beneficial in portraying this pivotal period in history in a manner that elicits compassion and understanding to children.;As a key component of the dissertation, the first comprehensive annotated bibliography of all juvenile historical fiction portraying the Irish Famine in existence around the world was compiled. As a foundational piece for other scholars, an overview of the literature is provided, categorizing the works by country of origin, publication date, reading level, structure, and textual emphasis on the Great Famine. Content analysis was conducted on each of the works and literary writing patterns became evident in the majority of the novels. Commonalities in theme, plot, characterization and setting were identified and explained.;The project examines the authors by nationality, gender, and their self-reported motives for writing about the Great Famine. Due to the absence of secondary sources, primary research was conducted and nearly every author was interviewed to identify the inspiration that led to the creation of the novels.;Comparative analysis among children's historical narratives presenting other significant and/or catastrophic events concluded that there is a scarcity of novels for children on the Irish Famine. Various explanations for the lack of Famine literature are presented and explored, including the psychological, educational, and scholarly silence that has surrounded the Great Famine until the 1990s, and the reluctance of many publishers to address calamitous or politically controversial topics in children's literature.