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Iona Archibald Opie

The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren (New York Review Books Classics) Paperback – April 9, 2001

by Iona Opie (Author), Peter Opie (Author), Marina Warner (Introduction)

4.3 63 ratings

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First published in 1959, Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren is a pathbreaking work of scholarship that is also a splendid and enduring work of literature. Going outside the nursery, with its assortment of parent-approved entertainments, to observe and investigate the day-to-day creative intelligence and activities of children, the Opies bring to life the rites and rhymes, jokes and jeers, laws, games, and secret spells of what has been called "the greatest of savage tribes, and the only one which shows no signs of dying out."

Print length

488 pages
Language

English
Publisher

NYRB Classics
Publication date

April 9, 2001
Dimensions

5 x 1.2 x 8.02 inches
ISBN-10

9780940322691
ISBN-13

978-0940322691
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Opies, professors of literature and essentially folklorists, did something path-breaking: they observed children and took their play seriously…The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren reminds us that children are their own beings who create and navigate complicated social worlds, and the way they do so is worthy of respect and understanding.” —Hilary Levey Friedman, Brain, Child Magazine

About the Author

Iona (1923-2017) and Peter Opie (1918-1982) began their research together in 1944. Fifteen years later, they published The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren and took their places as, to quote The Guardian, “the supreme archivists of the folklore movement.” Since that time, they have jointly published The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, The Classic Fairy Tales, and Children’s Game in Street and Playground. After Peter Opie’s death in 1982, Iona Opie carried on with their work under his name as well as her own.

Marina Warner’s studies of religion, mythology, and fairy tales include Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary, From the Beast to the Blonde, and Stranger Magic (National Book Critics Circle Award for Literary Criticism; Truman Capote Prize). A Fellow of the British Academy, Warner is also a professor of English and creative writing at Birkbeck College, London. In 2015 she was given the Holberg Prize.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0940322692
Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYRB Classics; Revised edition (April 9, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780940322691
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0940322691
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.2 x 8.02 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,324,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #342 in Children's Literary Criticism (Books)
- #5,650 in Cultural Anthropology (Books)
- #13,567 in Short Stories Anthologies

Customer Reviews:
4.3 63 ratings

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4.3 out of 5

63 global ratings

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Robert Hayes

As entertaining as anthropology gets

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2016

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LORE AND LANGUAGE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN is one of two books I found about out while doing late-night Wikipedia searches on a random rhyme I remembered from when I was a kid. Being a lover of history (and also fond of childhood), I couldn't pass this up. While this was written even before my dad, I found that I recognized a good deal of the rhymes and superstitions detailed inside. My favorite parts were the first several chapters, which dealt with the kinds of juvenile rhymes I was looking for, as well as various jokes, riddles, and the like. And, despite focusing almost exclusively on British schoolchildren's customs, there were occasional references to similar American traditions. My only quibble with the book is that, as far as entertainment value goes (my primary reason for buying this in the first place), it was a bit front-loaded. Once it started getting into specific traditions/customs that I was largely unfamiliar with (and holidays I hadn't even heard of) I started skimming instead of reading thoroughly. Still, I doubt there is a more entertaining anthropological study out there, at least on this subject. Highly recommended for passive reading or research.

9 people found this helpful

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Jackie Wolficn

Excited to read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2021

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Book came quickly and was in good shape. Cant wait to indulge in non fiction for little goblins like me.

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019

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Not only a funny book, but an entertaining trip down memory lane. This book stirred up childhood memories of long forgotten experiences..

2 people found this helpful

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Jay Dickson

Anthropology of a world like ours (but not quite)

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2003

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Collected in the 50s, the Opies' LORE AND LANGUAGE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN is a compelling compendium of a world very similar to that of the 21st century but not quite. Americans will be particularly fascinated by the slight differences in customs and games among children across the Atlantic, as the Opies catalogue nicknames, rhymes, games, tricks, and half-believed superstitions and spells. fascinating reading.

15 people found this helpful

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S. Sanders

Good read. Lots of history on how kids rhymes ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018

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Good read. Lots of history on how kids rhymes were passed on from neighborhood to neighborhood. I am still reading it.

One person found this helpful

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Peter

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2014

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a classic piece of original research, very entertainingly written.

One person found this helpful

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Tom Connor

For some reason I thought it would be the lore ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014

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For some reason I thought it would be the lore & language of American school kids, which I'm researching for a book, not British school children. But it's still interesting & extremely thorough.

One person found this helpful

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Janice Tydings

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017

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It's excellent. I would order it again!!

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Aries

Fantastic, valuable cultural record.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2016

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This book deserves a more thorough review than I'm going to give it, and it's worth far more than the 80p I paid for it 2nd hand.

Much of the language described in this book has been lost since it was published, truce terms, counting out rhymes, most of the customs of mischief night too - it remains in parts throughout the UK but fragmentary. While the passing of these things is perhaps inevitable, some of the knowledge recorded had survived hundreds or thousands of years before global homogenisation, for which our language and traditions are impoverished.
There are bits of this book which won't be mourned - the long section on catholic and protestant rivalry, anti-semitic calls and so on - note that the authors were academics and have simply recorded whatever they were able to discover, there is no prejudice intended.

I'd advise anyone with an interest in language, play, social history, etc. to read this book and disseminate the customs therein (well, perhaps don't send your children out to put the neighbour's gate in a pond).
For a semi-academic work it's entirely readable, and recitable.

14 people found this helpful

Ordinary Portland

Of its time, but very interesting.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

First published in 1959 this book is both dated and fascinating. A great gift for any schoolteacher.

One person found this helpful

Andy

Interesting but dry.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

It's interesting without a doubt however it's not what I am was expecting. Goes into a lot of historical detail, which makes for rather dry reading.

Nozzy

Fascinating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

The history and origins of the rhymes/sayings are really interesting and so are the regional differences. Husband and I are from different parts of this country and have compared what we used in those 'long ago' school days. A fascinating book, but not one you could read from cover to cover! As another reviewer says, probably best to dip in and out.

2 people found this helpful

Mrs J A Rowe

A delight just to dip into and reminds us of the ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

A lovely book, packed full of children's rhymes, etc. A delight just to dip into and reminds us of the games we used to play when children.

One person found this helpful

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