A Nineteenth-Century Juvenile Classic of Conduct, Character, and Social Life
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A volume from Jacob Abbott's Rollo series, presenting a series of episodes concerned with conduct, manners, and the development of social awareness in young readers.
Rollo in Society continues the instructional and narrative approach characteristic of Abbott's widely read series, following the young protagonist as he encounters situations requiring judgement, restraint, and consideration for others. The episodes are structured to illustrate the expectations of behaviour within social settings, with particular attention to courtesy, responsibility, and the formation of character.
Written in the mid-nineteenth century, the Rollo books reflect an educational tradition in which narrative serves as a vehicle for moral instruction. Abbott's prose is clear and direct, with each situation presented as an opportunity for reflection rather than simple correction. The series remained influential in its time and continues to offer insight into the values and pedagogical methods of early juvenile literature.
Jacob Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine, to Jacob and Betsey Abbott. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1820 and studied at Andover Theological Seminary afterward. From 1825 to 1829 he was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Amherst College. He founded the Mount Vernon School for Young Ladies in Boston in 1829, and was its principal from 1829–1833. Later, he was a principal of Abbott’s Institute, and then the Mount Vernon School for Boys in New York City. He was a prolific author and wrote juvenile fiction, brief histories, biographies, religious books for the general reader, and a few works in popular science. He is best-known for his Rollo series.
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