This book re-evaluates the role of sidekick characters in crime and detective fiction, challenging the notion that they are merely foils or narrators. It includes essays that explore their representations and functions across various forms, including children's fiction, comics, and film, linking them into a broader analysis of crime narratives.
Patrolling the Borders between Boyhood and Manhood
Focusing on the evolution of the boy detective in British children's literature, this book examines the character's role as a reflection of adult anxieties regarding boyhood and the transition to manhood from the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth century. It analyzes the significance of detective narratives in 'penny dreadfuls' and story papers targeted at working-class boys, exploring how these stories shaped societal expectations and ideals of masculinity during a pivotal time for the British Empire. This study is essential for scholars in children's literature, crime fiction, and popular culture.