The Children's Book is a 2009 novel written by British author A. S. Byatt. The story follows the lives of several connected families, including adults and children, from 1895 through World War I. It is loosely inspired by the life of children’s writer E. Nesbit, and as the story progresses, secrets are gradually uncovered that show the families are more creatively connected than they first appear. The book was shortlisted for the 2009 Booker Prize.

The Wellwood family—Olive, Humphry, Olive’s sister Violet, and many children—are members of the Fabian group, which includes artists, writers, and craftsmen who explore new ways to express art and live creative lives before the destruction of World War I. Olive, the main character, writes children’s books to support her large family. The title of the book refers to the many children in the story: Tom, Julian, Philip, Elsie, Dorothy, Hedda, Griselda, Florence, Charles/Karl, Phyllis, and others. The story follows these children as they grow up and face the challenges of war.

In an interview with The Guardian, Byatt explained that the book focuses on the fictional writer Olive Wellwood and covers events from 1895 until the end of World War I. Olive is based on E. Nesbit. Another character, Herbert Methley, combines traits of H. G. Wells and D. H. Lawrence. The book also includes real-life figures such as Rupert Brooke, Emma Goldman, Auguste Rodin, George Bernard Shaw, Virginia Woolf, and Oscar Wilde, who appear as themselves. Byatt originally planned to name the book The Hedgehog, the White Goose and the Mad March Hare.

Fictional characters in their families

The book includes many fictional and historical characters. Byatt used a spreadsheet program to organize them.

• Olive Wellwood is the wife of Humphry, mother of Tom and many other children, and a writer of children’s books, mostly fairy stories. She was born in very poor conditions, but her income helps support her family in their large home called Todefright. She knows a lot about British fairy stories.
• Violet Grimwith is Olive’s sister. She helps care for the Wellwood family and is called the children’s “real” mother.
• Humphry Wellwood works at the Bank of England. He is cautious about quick-profit plans, has many romantic relationships, and is married to Olive. He and Olive are part of the Fabian Society.
• Tom Wellwood is the oldest son of Olive and Humphry. He enjoys being in nature.
• Dorothy Wellwood is the oldest daughter. She chooses to become a doctor.
• Phyllis Wellwood is another daughter. She enjoys household tasks.
• Hedda Wellwood is expected to become a suffragette.
• Florian Wellwood is Phyllis’s brother.
• Robin Wellwood is always one of the youngest children.
• Harry Wellwood is the last child born to Olive.
• Rosy is a baby who has passed away.
• Peter Wellwood is their first child, who died at a very young age.

The London Wellwoods:
• Basil Wellwood is Humphry’s brother. He does well in banking.
• Katharina Wildvogel Wellwood is Basil’s wife. She is the daughter of his boss and was born in Germany.
• Charles/Karl Wellwood is their son. He becomes an Anarchist.
• Griselda Wellwood is their daughter. She is very pretty and a scholar.

At the Victoria and Albert Museum:
• Major Prosper Cain is the Special Keeper of Precious Metals at the South Kensington Museum (the future Victoria and Albert Museum).
• Julian Cain is Major Prosper Cain’s son. He is a student at Eton and Cambridge.
• Florence Cain is his daughter. She moves to Italy and becomes close to Gabriel Goldwasser.

At Cambridge University:
• Gerald Matthiessen is a student. He is part of the Apostles (a secret society).
• Leslie Skinner is a friend of Humphry Wellwood. He works in the Department of Applied Mathematics at University College London (UCL).
• Etta Skinner is Leslie’s wife. She is a teacher at Queen’s College, London.

At Purchase House in Dungeness:
• Benedict Fludd is an unusual artist and master potter. His work is collected by others.
• Seraphita (Sarah-Jane) Fludd is his wife. She does embroidery and little else.
• Geraint Fludd is their son. He is interested in business.
• Imogen Fludd is their daughter. She is rescued by Prosper Cain.
• Pomona Fludd is their daughter. She sleepwalks.
• Philip Warren is a runaway from factories. He becomes an apprentice to Benedict Fludd. He is first seen sketching the Gloucester candlestick.
• Elsie Warren finds Philip after their mother dies. She then helps care for the Fludd family.
• Ann is Elsie’s daughter.

Neighbors in Kent: “Their guests included socialists, anarchists, Quakers, Fabians, artists, editors, freethinkers, and writers. These people lived in converted cottages, old farmhouses, Arts and Crafts homes, and workingmen’s terraces in the villages, woods, and meadows around the Kentish Weald and the North and South Downs.”

• Vasily Tartarinov is a Russian anarchist and refugee.
• Elena is his wife. Andrei and Dmitri are their sons.
• Leslie and Etta Skinner are Fabians and scholars.
• Arthur Dobbin is not a good apprentice to Benedict Fludd, but he may be better at promoting the arts.
• Frank Mallet is a local pastor.
• Augustus Steyning is a theatre director and sometimes writes plays.
• Patty Dace is on many committees and helps women in need.
• Herbert Methley is a man who lectures about the “sex problem,” seduces women, and writes banned books.
• Phoebe Methley is not really Herbert’s wife.
• Marion Oakeshott is a “widow,” a local school teacher, and a close friend of Humphry Wellwood.
• Robin Oakeshott is Marion’s son. He looks very similar to Robin Wellwood.

• Anselm Stern is a master of puppetry and marionettes. He once knew Olive Wellwood in Munich.
• Angela Stern is his wife.
• Wolfgang Stern is their oldest son. He is an expert in stagecraft.
• Leon Stern is their quieter younger son.

• Toby Youlgreave is an old friend of both Humphry and Olive. He teaches the older boys, preparing them for school.
• Joachim Susskind is a young German who tutors Tom and Charles/Karl.

Historical characters

• J. M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, praises Olive's plays, who is a contemporary of his.
• Rupert Brooke, who studied at college with Julian Cain, attends the appropriate plays and parties.
• William Morris, whose artworks are frequently referenced, helps establish the Arts and Crafts theme in the novel.
• Bernard Palissy is mentioned repeatedly as the most skilled potter.
• Oscar Wilde is shown during his later years and at the 1900 Paris Exposition.
• Edward Carpenter, a gay activist, supports a "back to nature" approach to solve problems in society.
• George Merrill is Edward Carpenter's lifelong companion.
• Emma Goldman is an anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches.
• Emmeline Pankhurst is a political activist and leader of the suffragette movement.
• Marie Stopes is a pioneer in family planning.
• Karl Pearson is a mathematician and biostatistician at University College London (Department of Applied Mathematics).

Reviews

• New York Times Book Review: "Dangerous Fancies" by Jennifer Schuessler, October 8, 2009.
• Guardian UK Book Review: "Her Dark Materials: AS Byatt's intense description of the dangers of artistic creation makes readers feel uneasy," by Alex Clark, May 9, 2009.