Helen Bannerman

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Standard Name: Bannerman, Helen
Birth Name: Helen Brodie Cowan Watson
Married Name: Helen Brodie Cowan Bannerman
Used Form: the author of The Story of Little Black Mingo
Used Form: the author of The Story of Little Black Sambo
HB began writing in British India to amuse her two small daughters, published the book The Story of Little Black Sambo at the end of the nineteenth century, and immediately became immensely successful as a children's writer. A couple of generations later, as racial attitudes changed, she became the centre of controversy over the allegedly racialist attitudes of her writing.
Black and white photo, full face, of Helen Bannerman's head. The image is not very clear, and a strong light produces exaggerated contrasts of light and shade. Bannerman appears to be smiling.

Connections

Connections Author name Excerpt
Intertextuality and Influence Flora Annie Steel
Helen Bannerman may have taken from this volume the motif of animals dressing up in human clothes, which she used to great effect in The Story of Little Black Sambo, 1899.

Timeline

No timeline events available.

Texts

Bannerman, Helen. The Story of Little Black Mingo. James Nisbet, 1901.
Bannerman, Helen. The Story of Little Black Quibba. James Nisbet, 1902.
Bannerman, Helen. The Story of Little Black Sambo. Grant Richards, 1899.
Bannerman, Helen. The Story of Little Black Sambo. Chatto and Windus, 1957.
Bannerman, Helen. The Story of Sambo and the Twins. James Nisbet, 1937.