Childhood

A beloved toy. A private fear. A summer morning that seems to last forever.
Childhood unfolds in moments adults can easily overlook—and children may remember for a lifetime.
In this intimate collection of essays, Alice Meynell explores the inner world of children with tenderness, wit, and a poet’s eye for detail. Familiar toys become objects of fierce affection. Fairy tales open questions about imagination and belief. A patch of moss reveals a landscape invisible to grown-ups. Even the passing of an hour takes on a different meaning.
Meynell looks closely at what adults misunderstand: the seriousness of play, the sting of unfairness, the delicate boundaries between laughter and cruelty, and the difference between keeping a child entertained and allowing joy to grow. Her observations invite us to reconsider the assumptions we bring to the children in our lives—and to our memories of ourselves.
For readers who love lyrical essays, thoughtful writing about family, and the beauty of ordinary experience, Childhood offers a richly perceptive reading experience.
Step into a world where small things carry immense feeling, and rediscover the wonder of looking closely.