Nesbit, Edith

Edith Nesbit (1858–1924), who published as “E. Nesbit,” was a prolific late Victorian and early twentieth‐century poet, short‐story writer, and novelist. Her most enduring and beloved works remain her children's books, particularlyThe Railway Children(1906), the Psammead Trilogy (1902–6), and the Bastable Trilogy (1899–1904). Incorporating magical and realistic adventures into her children's books, Nesbit helped change nineteenth‐century conventions of children's literature. Recent scholarship on Nesbit primarily focuses on how her works affect the social and intellectual development of children, but critics have also addressed Nesbit's work through the ideological lenses of class, gender, nationality, and imperialism. Additionally, she is a founder of the Fabian Society – the Victorian socialist group.