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The Water-Babies

work by Kingsley

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The Water-Babies is a children's fantasy novel by Charles Kingsley, published in 1863. The story follows a young chimney sweep named Tom who is drowned and transformed into a "water-baby." The novel combines Kingsley's concerns for sanitary reform with his interest in natural history and the theory of evolution. It is considered a significant work in the development of English children's literature, marking a transition from purely moralistic tales to more imaginative narratives.12

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