Adventures in Childhood connects modern intellectual property law and practice with a history of consumption. Structured in a loosely chronological order, the book begins with the creation of a children's literature market, a Christmas market, and moves through character merchandising, syndicated newspaper strips, film, television, and cross-industry relations, finishing in the 1970s, by which time professional identities and legal practices had stabilized. By focusing on the rise of child-targeted commercial activities, the book is able to reflect on how and why intellectual property rights became a defining feature of 20th century culture. Chapters trace the commercial empires that grew around Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Meccano, Felix the Cat, Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, Eagle Magazine, Davy Crockett, Mr Men, Dr Who, The Magic Roundabout and The Wombles to show how modern intellectual property merchandising was plagued with legal and moral questions that exposed the tension between exploitation and innocence.

"This book explores how the business of play and the development of modern intellectual property evolved together, and alongside concerns about children's consumption becoming a legitimate source of revenue and profit. Or, in other words, how that industry and children's special attachment to it gradually emerged. In so doing, it considers the paradox in the relationship between the growth of intellectual property and the presumed innocence of childhood that initially underpinned controversies about the construction of the child as a consumer. As is apparent throughout the book, our main argument is neither moralistic nor regulatory. Rather, our concern is to explore how, since the late nineteenth and through to the twentieth century, attempts to come to terms with this paradox were embedded in many issues and contexts. In tracing those entangled relationships, we think it is possible to see how modern authorship, entrepreneurship and even the child as a consumer, all came into simultaneous existence through a process of the mutual conferring of reality"--

This carefully edited collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925) was an English writer of adventure novels and fantasy stories set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the Lost World literary genre. Table of Contents: Allan Quatermain Series: Marie Allan's Wife Child of Storm A Tale of Three Lions Maiwa's Revenge The Hunter Quatermain's Story Long Odds Allan and the Holy Flower She and Allan The Ivory Child Finished Magepa the Buck King Solomon's Mines The Ancient Allan Allan Quatermain Ayesha Series: She Ayesha She and Allan Other Novels: Dawn The Witch's Head Jess Mr. Meeson's Will Colonel Quaritch, V.C. Cleopatra Beatrice The World's Desire Eric Brighteyes Nada the Lily Montezuma's Daughter The People of the Mist Heart of the World Joan Haste The Wizard Doctor Therne Elissa Swallow Lysbeth Pearl Maiden Stella Fregelius The Brethren The Way of the Spirit Benita Fair Margaret The Ghost Kings The Yellow God The Lady of Blossholme Morning Star Queen Sheba's Ring Red Eve The Mahatma and the Hare The Wanderer's Necklace Love Eternal Moon of Israel When the World Shook The Virgin of the Sun Short Stories: Smith and the Pharaohs The Blue Curtains Little Flower Only a Dream Barbara Who Came Back Non-fiction: Cetywayo and his White Neighbors The Last Boer War A Winter Pilgrimage Regeneration