The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading by Sam Leith

The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading by Sam Leith

Can you remember the first time you fell in love with a book? The stories we read as children are indelible—they reach far beyond our childhoods, becoming windows into our deepest hopes, joys and anxieties. They reveal who we have been and who we might become, haunting us in the very best way for the rest of our lives.

In this pioneering history of the children's literary canon, Sam Leith traces the magic of childhood reading from the ancient tales of Aesop through the Victorian and Edwardian golden ages to new classics of today. With scholarly care and genuine delight, he excavates the complex lives of literature's most beloved writers—revealing how their own childhoods, struggles and dreams shaped the stories that have inspired generations. From C.S. Lewis to Roald Dahl, from Beatrix Potter to contemporary voices, Leith illuminates how books comfort, transform and define us, celebrating the power of storytelling to offer solace and spark imagination in readers young and old.

At 592 pages, The Haunted Wood is a gloriously entertaining, deeply moving meditation on why the books we read as children matter so profoundly. Named Book of the Year 2024 by the Sunday Times, Irish Times, Financial Times, Independent, TLS, Economist and New Statesman, it has been hailed by Philip Pullman as "a marvel," by Julia Donaldson as "a delight" and by Tom Holland as "gloriously entertaining." Perfect for anyone who has ever been changed by a beloved story, or who wishes to understand how the books we loved as children continue to shape the adults we become.