Stories and Legends of Travel and History, for Children

London's parks and gardens give Grace Greenwood an opening into the history and daily pleasures of England. Writing for children, she describes Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent's Park, with particular attention to public access and the comfort of animals in the Zoological Gardens. A clock with two striking figures leads to a story about a boy's wish to own the object that fascinated him.

The collection joins accounts of places with historical tales and local legends. Its contents take readers from St. Paul's Cathedral, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle to Dublin, Blarney Castle and the lakes of Killarney. A later episode follows Grace O'Malley, whose affection for a young child brings a gentler side to her forceful character. Greenwood's conversational manner makes the book useful for readers interested in how nineteenth-century travel writing introduced children to landmarks, remembered figures and stories associated with particular places.