Cover of The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby
Fae & Fairy FictionClassic FantasyFairy Tales & Folklore

The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby

by

  • 1863 first published
  • 272 pages
  • ★ 4.3 (10 ratings)
  • 213 editions
Borrow on Open LibraryFind in a library

Published in 1863, The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby is a fae fiction and classic fantasy novel by Charles Kingsley. The story is set in England. Key subjects include chimney sweeps, fairy tales, fairies and Painting.

Open Library readers give it an average of 4.3 out of 5 from 10 ratings, and 143 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 213 editions.

At about 272 pages, most readers finish it in 4–5 hours.

About The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby

The story follows Tom in his land-life as a climbing boy for a chimney-sweep and in his after-life as a water-baby, where he gains redemption from selfishness as well as from drudgery. On to his fantasy Kingsley grafts a series of digressions and comic asides, through which he comments on a range of contemporary issues.
Description from Open Library

Opening line

“ONCE upon a time there was a little chimney-sweep, and his was Tom.”

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Setting

Subjects

  • Chimney sweeps
  • Fairy tales
  • Children's stories
  • Children's fiction
  • Fairies
  • Adventure and adventurers
  • Fantasy
  • Painting
  • Private collections
  • Royal houses
  • Art collections
  • Kings and rulers
  • Marine animals
  • British and irish fiction, Fictional works by one author
  • Contes de fées
  • Emotions

Quick answers

Who wrote The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby?

The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby was written by Charles Kingsley and first published in 1863.

What genre is The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby?

It is usually shelved as Fae & Fairy Fiction, Classic Fantasy and Fairy Tales & Folklore.

How long is The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby?

The median edition has 272 pages, about 4–5 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

What books are similar to The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby?

Readers who like it often enjoy Five Children and It, The Story of the Amulet and The Yellow Fairy Book.

More by Charles Kingsley

All books →

Books like The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-baby