Votes for Catharine Susan and Me
London, Castell Brothers Ltd., 1910.
24mo, [24] pages with 11 chromolithographic illustrations (10 full-page and a double-page centrefold) by the author; the text is facsimile manuscript.
Sewn flush-cut plain card with the colour-pictorial wrapper folded onto it, as issued (the card cover is a recent replacement, like-for-like, and the wrapper has some conservation work done to the spine and front flap); tiny tear to a margin of six leaves expertly sealed; thin light tidemark to a few bottom margins; unobtrusive ownership inscription at the foot of the title page (December 1911); nevertheless, a very good copy of an extraordinary book for children.
The website of the British Library asks 'Why is this book important?' and then goes on to give it the incorrect title of 'Catherine [sic] Susan and Me'! Be that as it may, it is 'the only book about suffragettes written for children during the "Votes for Women" campaign.... "Catherine [sic] Susan" and "Me" are two peg dolls who find themselves swept up in the "Votes for Women" campaign. Just like the real suffragettes, they fight with policemen, they smash windows, they go up in a balloon to drop propaganda leaflets, they are put in prison, go on hunger strike, refusing all food - even chocolates - and, finally, but very unlike the real suffragettes, they "[agree] to go home quietly"'.
Item #135255
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