When I was working on the article about the witty and amusing books of W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman, their British history textbook parody 1066 and All That made me think of Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon's Kings and Queens, which was first published in 1932.
The time has finally come to say a few words about this light and amusing little book.
Kings and Queens is a children's classic that adults also enjoy reading. It consists of a collection of forty-one (originally thirty-eight) short poems about English and British monarchs. It is intended to be both educational and fun to read.
The first poem is about William I, who became king in 1066.
The final poem in the early editions is about George V, who was on the throne when the book was first published. The 1953 edition, which was produced to mark the coronation year, also covers Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II.
In between these monarchs, each member of each dynasty is honoured with a poem. Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell also gets one, even though he was not an actual king!
Kings and Queens is available in several editions and has been illustrated by a variety of artists.
This is the first edition:
Elizabeth I is a good example of the poems in the Farjeons' book:
In a very big ruff and a very wide dress;
Her hair it is red, and her eyes they are green,
And England has prospered since Bess became Queen.
…
She's proud as an eagle that weathers the gale,
She's crafty and jealous, suspicious and mean,
But England is England now Bess is the Queen.
That sums her up quite well!
Kings and Queens had some royal fans. Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, procured the book for the royal nursery. The young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret probably used the poems in their history lessons. I am sure that they would have enjoyed learning about their royal predecessors in this way.
The little princesses doing their homework in the palace schoolroom:
Was far more loved than he was feared
...
His subjects with the spoken word,
…
And almost everyone would stay
Especially on Christmas Day.
Brother and sister Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon were born into an artistic and literary family in 1881 and 1887 respectively.
Herbert Farjeon was a major figure in the theatre and Eleanor wrote some excellent children's stories.
In addition to the poems in Kings and Queens, they collaborated on several stage productions for children and independently produced some words that became very well known.
Herbert Farjeon wrote the words for a song that was first performed at private parties in 1927 and later, with the approval of the then Prince of Wales, on stage:
who's danced with a girl,
who's danced with the Prince of Wales!
Eleanor Farjeon created the verses for the hymn Morning has Broken in 1931. It starts:
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
Fresh from the Word!
A more recent edition of Kings and Queens:
