“Novels for Young Girls” by Jan Chachot in the context of literature for children and youth

Abstract

This article is an attempt to determine Jan Chachot’s role in 19th century children’s literature. Our main focus is placed on his almost unknown collection Novels for young girls, that consists of four novels: Sventochna, or Gratitude, Bogna and Lubomyra, or Arrogance and Modesty, Ludgarda, or the Useful travel, Dobrochna, or Charity always memorable. Their main characters are clever, beautiful, industrious, well-educated girls, who are veritable models of piety, charity and chastity. The basic theme of novels is the girl girls’world, related to their role in the family and society. Jan Chachot used the experience of his predecessors, adopting some of their ideas. As opposed to previous epochs, where the role of women was limited to their domestic duties and unqualified work, and female education was considered unnecessary and even harmful, Jan Chachot emphasizes that they can not only serve their family, but also be useful to society.