The Fairchild Family

by Mary Martha Sherwood

"The Fairchild Family" by Mary Martha Sherwood is a series of children's books published between 1818 and 1847. This bestselling work follows three siblings—Emily, Lucy, and Henry—as they navigate childhood under their devoutly evangelical parents' guidance. The first volume emphasizes the children's struggles with original sin and their need for salvation, while later installments shift toward lessons in etiquette and proper behavior. Once celebrated for its realistic portrayal of childhood, the series later became emblematic of Victorian didactic literature, ultimately overshadowed by more imaginative works.