The Uses of Juvenilia

Ernest Jones's Effusions

Abstract

The paper examines the ways in which juvenilia has been or can be "used" to help construct the image of the mature writer. Examining mostly the childhood writing of the Chartist Ernest Jones, I question the relationship between the early and mature writings, suggesting that determining this relationship should not be part of a campaign to promote an image of the mature man. In other words, the relationship between youthful writing and adult writing needs to be interpreted, not assumed.