Mike Burton returns with his most popular talk due to popular demand. This time he will describe how Charles Kingsley wrote his famous novel, The Water Babies, and the effect it had on society.

This beautiful fairy story has charmed generations of children – and adults. But scarcely remembered now is the central part it played in the famous Darwinian evolution debate, nor the major boost it gave to the advancement of women’s rights. It was also critical to the growth of the
early environmental movement and to the fight for clean water in cities. And it was decisive in ending the shameful Victorian era chapter of little boys being sent up chimneys as sweeps.

Mike is a former journalist and history teacher whose enthusiasm for his subject is evident in his super presentations.