Edith Nesbit

The Magic World Illustrated Edith Nesbit

The Magic World is an influential collection of twelve short stories by E. Nesbit. It was first published in book form in 1912 by Macmillan and Co. Ltd . The stories, previously printed in magazines such as Blackie's Children's Annual, are typical of Nesbit's arch, ironic, clever fantasies for children. Nesbit's little girls tend to get in trouble over their efforts at gardening. Elsie in "Just now land" uproots turnip plants she mistakes for weeds; Anabel cuts chrysanthemum blossoms from a greenhouse and tries to plant them in a flower bed. Stories in the collection feature talking animals and human/animal transformation, with implications regarding animal welfare and avoidance of mistreatment. The opening story is the most explicit in its message against cruelty to animals. Twelve short stories about the fantastic adventures of children who become accidentally involved with the forces of magic. At her imaginative best, Nesbit takes us through such tales as "The Cat-hood of Maurice," "The Mixed Mine," "Accidental Magic," "The Princess and the Hedge-pig," "The Related Muff," "Just now land," "Kenneth and the Carp," and more.