JOHN D. BATTEN
by Joseph Jacobs
A Special Book for Peggy
My dear little Peggy, I have a new book for you. This book is just for you. Ganpa made it for his sweet Peggy. It is a special book. It has many stories inside. You will like these stories. They are very old and good. This book is all yours.
Ganpa made a book before. It was for your Mummey, May. She was a little girl then. This was a long, long time ago. Mr. Batten drew pictures for that book. They were pretty pictures. Mummey loved her book. You know her book, Peggy.
Your new book has stories from far away. They come from many places. People told these stories a long time ago. Grandmas told them to their children. Grandpas told them too. Now you can read them. They are very old stories. They are for you, Peggy.
Mr. Batten drew pictures again. He drew them for your book. He is a kind man. He does not know you, Peggy. But he made pretty pictures for you. He knows you will like them.
You can share this book. Other children can read it too. You can talk about the stories. This helps you make friends. Stories help friends. You will know many children. You will all be friends. This is very nice, Peggy.
One day you may go far away. You will go to other lands. Other children live there. They know these stories too. You can talk to them. You will feel happy. You will feel close to them. Stories connect people, Peggy.
Please remember your Ganpa. I am your old, old Ganpa. I made this book for you. It is your special book. I love you very much. This book is from me.
Do you hear Ganpa calling? I always call your name. I call, "Peggy, Peggy!" You always answer me. You say, "Ganpa, Ganpa!" This is our special game. I love our game. Who loves you, Peggy? Ganpa loves you! Who do you love, Peggy? You love Ganpa! Yes, you do. I know it.
Original Story
JOHN D. BATTEN
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
Copyright, 1916
BY
JOSEPH JACOBS
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To
Peggy, and Madge, and Pearl, and Maggie,
and Marguerite, and Peggotty, and Meg, and Marjory, and Daisy, and Pegg, and
MARGARET HAYS
(How many granddaughters does that make?)
My Dear Little Peggy:—
Many, many, many years ago I wrote a book for your Mummey—when she was my little May—telling the fairy tales which the little boys and girls of England used to hear from their mummeys, who had heard them from their mummeys years and years and years before. My friend Mr. Batten made such pretty pictures for it—but of course you know the book—it has "Tom, Tit, Tot" and "The little old woman that went to market," and all those tales you like. Now I have been making a fairy-tale book for your own self, and here it is. This time I have told, again the fairy tales that all the mummeys of Europe have been telling their little Peggys, Oh for ever so many years! They must have liked them because they have spread from Germany to Russia, from Italy to France, from Holland to Scotland, and from England to Norway, and from every country in Europe that you will read about in your geography to every other one. Mr. Batten, who made the pictures for your mummey's book, has made some more for yours—isn't it good of him when he has never seen you?
Though this book is your very, very own, you will not mind if other little girls and boys also get copies of it from their mummeys and papas and ganmas and ganpas, for when you meet some of them you will, all of you, have a number of common friends like "The Cinder-Maid," or "The Earl of Cattenborough," or "The Master-Maid," and you can talk to one another about them so that you are old friends at once. Oh, won't that be nice? And when one of these days you go over the Great Sea, in whatever land you go, you will find girls and boys, as well as grown-ups, who will know all of these tales, even if they have different names. Won't that be nice too?
And when you tell your new friends here or abroad of these stories that you and they will know so well, do not forget to tell them that you have a book, all of your very own, which was made up specially for you of these old, old stories by your old, old
Ganpa.
P.S.—Do you hear me calling as I always do, "Peggy, Peggy"? Then you must answer as usual, "Ganpa, Ganpa."
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Characters
Peggy ★ protagonist
A young girl, likely of European descent, with a small and delicate build typical of a child. Her exact height and weight are not specified, but she is depicted as a recipient of fairy tales, suggesting a youthful and innocent appearance.
Attire: Not specified, but would be typical early 20th-century English children's clothing, likely a simple dress or pinafore made of cotton or linen, suitable for play and reading.
Wants: To enjoy and learn from the fairy tales, to connect with her grandfather, and to share her experiences with others.
Flaw: Her youth and innocence, making her reliant on adults for stories and guidance.
The story positions her at the beginning of an arc of discovery and connection through shared stories, suggesting she will grow to appreciate these tales and their power to unite people.
Curious, imaginative, appreciative of stories, and affectionate towards her grandfather.
Ganpa (Joseph Jacobs) ◆ supporting
An elderly man, likely of European descent, with a kind and gentle demeanor. His exact physical traits are not described, but his role as a grandfather suggests a mature, perhaps slightly stooped, figure.
Attire: Not specified, but would be typical early 20th-century English men's attire, perhaps a tweed jacket, waistcoat, and trousers, suggesting a scholarly yet comfortable appearance.
Wants: To share the joy and cultural heritage of fairy tales with his granddaughter and other children, to preserve these stories, and to foster connection through shared narratives.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but perhaps a sentimental attachment to the past or a desire to relive his own youth through his grandchildren.
His arc is one of continued legacy, passing down stories and traditions to a new generation, reinforcing his role as a guardian of cultural heritage.
Affectionate, thoughtful, nostalgic, generous, and a dedicated storyteller.
Mr. Batten (John D. Batten) ○ minor
An adult man, likely of European descent, an artist by profession. No specific physical details are given, but he is described as having made 'pretty pictures' for the books.
Attire: Not specified, but would be typical early 20th-century English men's attire, possibly a suit or more casual artist's smock, depending on the context.
Wants: To create beautiful illustrations for fairy tale books, contributing to the magic and appeal of the stories.
Flaw: Not applicable to the story's narrative.
His role is static, serving as the illustrator for both generations of books.
Talented, dedicated, generous (as he made pictures for Peggy without having met her).
Locations
The Knickerbocker Press Office
An office or publishing house where books are prepared and copyrighted. Implied to be a place of literary creation and business.
Mood: Professional, industrious, historical.
The place where the book was copyrighted and prepared for publication in 1916.
A Cozy Nursery/Child's Bedroom
A warm, intimate space where a child (Peggy) would be read to, filled with personal touches and a sense of comfort.
Mood: Warm, intimate, nostalgic, safe, loving.
The imagined setting where Peggy would receive and read the book, connecting with her grandfather's stories.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
An author, 'Ganpa,' dedicates a new book of European fairy tales to his granddaughter, Peggy, reminiscing about a previous book he wrote for her mother. He highlights how the same illustrator, Mr. Batten, contributed to both. Ganpa expresses his hope that these universal stories will connect Peggy with other children, both locally and internationally, fostering friendships through shared narratives. He concludes with a tender personal message, reminding Peggy of his love and the special bond they share through storytelling.
Themes
Emotional Arc
nostalgia to warmth
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Joseph Jacobs was a prominent folklorist who collected and published English fairy tales, making them accessible to a wider audience. This dedication serves as a personal introduction to one of his collections, likely 'European Folk and Fairy Tales' or a similar compilation.
Plot Beats (8)
- The author, 'Ganpa,' dedicates a new book of fairy tales to his granddaughter, Peggy.
- He recalls writing a similar book for Peggy's mother, May, many years ago, featuring English fairy tales illustrated by Mr. Batten.
- He explains that this new book for Peggy contains fairy tales from across Europe, which have been passed down for generations.
- He notes that Mr. Batten has again provided illustrations, even though he has never met Peggy.
- Ganpa expresses his wish that Peggy will share these stories with other children, creating common ground and instant friendships.
- He imagines Peggy traveling abroad and finding children and adults who know these same tales, fostering a sense of global connection.
- He asks Peggy to remember him, her 'old, old Ganpa,' as the creator of this special book.
- The dedication ends with a personal call-and-response between Ganpa and Peggy.
