Charlotte Mason

"As the acknowledged founder and philosopher of the Parents' National Educational Union PNEU, Charlotte Mason 1842-1923 was revered by her followers as a saintly Madonna figure. She died in 1923 at the peak of her fame, having achieved mythic status as the Principal of her House of Education and wide recognition after the introduction of her liberal educational programmes into state schools. Yet her early life and heritage remained shrouded in mystery. Drawing upon insubstantiated sources, the official biography released in 1960 confused rather than illuminated Charlotte's background, contributing to several enduring misapprehensions. In her new and definitive biography, Margaret Coombs draws on years of research to reveal for the first time the hidden backdrop to Charlotte Mason's life, tracing the lives of her previously undiscovered Quaker ancestors to offer a better understanding of the roots of her personality and ideas. Coombs charts her rise from humble beginnings as an orphaned pupil-teacher to great heights as a lady of culture venerated within prestigious PNEU circles, illustrating how with determination she surmounted rigid Victorian class divisions to achieve her educational vision. A thorough analysis of Charlotte Mason's educational influences and key friendships challenges longstanding notions about the roots of her philosophy, offering a more realistic picture of her life and work than ever accomplished before. With a growing following in the USA and Australia, Charlotte Mason's ideas have a clear relevance to the continuing educational debate today. Admirers of her philosophy and scholars of the history of education will find much to enthral and instruct them in these pages. Margaret A. Coombs is a sociologist and social historian, especially interested in the Victorian age. She is author of a number of publications, including journal articles and blog posts reviewing her research into Charlotte Mason and the PNEU. "The story of Charlotte Mason has reached a higher form of clarity, historical rigour and accuracy through this new work by Margaret Coombs. In these pages, the early life and educational philosophy of Mason come to life in an engaging and well-researched narrative that helps to dispel the inauthentic picture perpetuated in current circles. Critical readers will find much here to ponder as the historical veil that has long obfuscated Mason's life becomes more transparent." Jack Edward Beckman, Professor of Education, Covenant College, Georgia. "This book is a wonderful and very welcome addition to Mason scholarship, densely researched and impressive in its range of references. There are some exciting discoveries here about Mason's family background which greatly add to our understanding of her personality and life story. It provides an excellent insight into the remarkable life and achievements of an extraordinary individual, whilst also helping us to understand the constraints experienced by all women in Victorian society, as well as the new opportunities available to the more resourceful of them." Christina de Bellaigue, Associate Professor, Jackson Fellow and Tutor in Modern History, Exeter College, University of Oxford."

Publisher -

Language - English

Paperback

Contributors

Author

Margaret Coombs

Margaret A. Coombs

Margaret A. Coombs

Published Date -

ISBN - 9780718894023

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.0 cm

Page Count - 375