Poetry, Verse and Rhymes; Games. 0721: Anon., The Adventures of Jack the Broom Boy
| Author: |
Anon. |
| Title: |
The adventures of Jack the broom boy. Illustrated with 15 copper plates |
| Cat. Number: |
0721 |
| Date: |
1807 |
| 1st Edition: |
Unknown |
| Pub. Place: |
London |
| Publisher: |
T. and R. Hughes, No.35 Ludgate Street |
| Price: |
1s coloured |
| Pages: |
1 vol., 28pp. |
| Size: |
11 x 9.5 cm |
| Illustrations: |
Frontispiece plus 14 further coloured engravings |
| Note: |
Printed on one side of the paper only |
Images of all pages of this book
Introductory essay
The first stanzas of The Adventures of Jack the Broom Boy seem to protend a highly moralistic cautionary tale telling of the miserable fate which befell the boy who was too fond of his bed (pp.2-3). In fact, Jack instantly amends his behaviour and we next encounter him not only having gathered fresh sticks for his father's broom-making, but actively selling them around town. He finds that he delights in this business, and his brooms sell well. He is evidently soon rich enough to afford a cart, for it is when his cart breaks down that he meets the woman who will become his wife. Within the space of just ten quatrains, Jack us married and has installed his wife in a fine shop, while he continues in his thriving trade. 'Then learn from these scenes where Industry reigns', the final lines exhort the reader, 'Prosperity always attends.' (p.15)
Much of the typography of The Adventures of Jack the Broom Boy is similar to some of the books published at about the same time by John Harris. Compare the title-page, for instance, with the title-page of Harris's Peter Prim's Pride (0196).
