A Great Emergency & Other Tales (1911) by Juliana Horatia Ewing, illustrated by M.V. Wheelhouse, is a delightful collection of Victorian children’s stories brimming with warmth, wit, and gentle moral lessons. The title story, A Great Emergency, follows two brothers whose overactive imaginations turn a minor household mishap into a grand adventure, blending humor and childhood innocence. Ewing’s prose—praised by contemporaries like Rudyard Kipling—eschews heavy-handed preaching in favor of relatable charm, as seen in companion tales like The Trinity Flower and A Flat Iron for a Farthing. Wheelhouse’s delicate pen-and-ink illustrations enhance the nostalgic appeal, capturing the era’s domestic coziness and childlike wonder.
Ewing (1841–1885), a trailblazer in children’s literature, influenced later authors such as Beatrix Potter. This 1911 edition, likely published by SPCK or Bell & Sons, is cherished by collectors for its period artwork and enduring tales of family and small-scale heroics.
For lovers of classic children’s fiction, consider Ewing’s The Brownies, Burnett’s The Secret Garden, or Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit—all celebrating childhood’s quiet epiphanies.
