The Clerical Strain in British Children's Literature

While in London last summer, I visited the Science Museum's exhibit on British technological progress in the 1950s and 1960s, which was "branded" with the characters of the Dan Dare comics series.

I didn't think the exhibit made a good case for linking the comics' sci-fi with the creation of radios only slightly larger than shoeboxes, even if they did appear at the same time. But I suppose the familiar faces made the exhibit more interesting for people who grew up reading Dan Dare.

The thought that struck me hardest as I learned about Eagle, the magazine that published that comic, is how the line of British fantastic literature for children includes several notable books from clergymen:

• Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland. (I should note that Dodgson worked as a college professor rather than a minister, but he was ordained.)
• George McDonald, author of The Light Princess and The Princess and the Goblin and a Congregationalist minister.
  
• Marcus Morris, vicar and founder of Eagle magazine.
• W. V. Awdry, vicar and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.
• G. P. Taylor, retired vicar, author of Shadowmancer and numerous press releases.

In addition, these British authors of Very Important children's novels also published widely read books of theology:

• Thomas Hughes, author of Tom Brown's Schooldays.
• C. S. Lewis, author of the Narnia series.

And there might be more.

I can't think of any equivalents in American children's literature. I'm not thinking about people who wrote religious books for captive young audiences, but authors who were either religious professionals or respected theologians and also created books that a significant number of children from other faiths have enjoyed.