Detail of a printed book shows a full-page illustration of a man smoking while seated and another man throwing water on him. Text in English on the opposite page.
Detail of a printed book shows text in English on the title page reading "Little Truths; Containing information on divers subjects for the instruction of children."
Detail of a printed book shows text in English following the title "Little Truths" at the top of the page.
Faded and tattered marble paper binding on the front cover of a printed book.

Little truths better than great fables

William Darton
1794

Like many children’s books of the 18th century, William Darton’s “Little Truths” are presented as a series of questions and answers on “divers subjects”—ranging from pelicans and windmills to why there are different races of people. The text also addresses Columbus’ voyages to the New World, the settlement of the continent by Europeans, and the evils of the slave trade. This edition is “illustrated with cuts”--one of which accompanies a discussion of tobacco, which recounts a story of Sir Walter Raleigh being doused with water by his servant, who “alarmed at the appearance of smoke coming out of his master’s mouth, hastily threw all the water in the jug over him, naturally supposing he was on fire.”

More From The Collection