# Cautionary Tales for Children

**Author:** Hilaire Belloc
**Tags:** Conduct of life, Children's poetry, English, Juvenile poetry
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 38
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96353

## Description

Dive into the delightfully dark and witty world of Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, a collection of satirical poems first published in 1907. This timeless classic playfully skewers the earnest moralizing of Victorian-era children's literature, offering humorous yet grim lessons for young readers between the ages of eight and fourteen. Each verse, often accompanied by the original charmingly macabre illustrations by Basil Temple Blackwood, presents a mischievous child who meets a comically dire, albeit fictional, end as a consequence of their misbehavior. From Jim, who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion, to Matilda, who told lies and was burned to death, Belloc’s clever rhyming couplets deliver sharp social commentary disguised as tales of admonition. Perfect for those who appreciate a touch of sardonic humor and enduring moral insights, these tales encourage good conduct with a memorable, lighthearted dread.