Fleas, Flies and Friars

Nicholas Orme’s Fleas, Flies and Friars is a delightful read about early children’s literature which evolved in medieval Europe. Compilations of poems, rhymes, riddles, charms, and carols were printed into textbooks and pocket sized courtesy books as a quick reference for kids. Some stories memorized by children were even passed down orally from generation to generation. Children’s literature was part of the curriculum at grammar schools for families of noble or gentry birth instilling in them societal norms of behavior and the traditions of annual holidays so they could participate in the merriment. Orme does a superb job of putting into chronological order select reads from the curriculums which were a part of medieval children’s education. The evolution of children’s literature is fascinating as Orme shows that present day children’s literature serves the same purpose as they did in yesteryear.

Orme contends that the earliest evidence of children’s literature dates back to the third century A.D. known as the Distichs of Cato which was composed in poetry form. Children’s literature developed even further through the 1200’s, and again in the 1400’s with the invention of paper. A majority of the narrative literature which Orme cites are from fifteenth century England including the Robin Hood ballads telling, “Thrice Robin shot about / And always he hit the wand.” It was through such ballads about Robin Hood passed down from generation and generation and written into text that provided the material for the movie The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn in 1938.

One of the more contemporary sounding charms made for children says, “Who steals this book should be hanged by the neck / Who blames what’s here may kiss my rear.” Other sayings were riddles like “What is higher than is the tree? What is deeper than is the sea?” The answer is “Heaven is higher than is the tree. Hell is deeper than is the sea.” Other forms of children’s literature included handbooks that provided instructions regarding acceptable behavior at the table or in the company of others, bon mots revealing sentiments of love, and Christmas carols that celebrate the merriment of the holiday season.

Orme’s book will evoke memories of the readers past, recalling the nursery rhymes, carols, charms, riddles, and codes of behavior that they learned through sayings whether it was about learning to tie their shoe strings into a bow or adhering to certain traditions of the yearly holidays. Fleas, Flies and Friars is a book that everyone can relate to giving readers a broader understanding of why children’s literature is an important aspect of one’s upbringing.