This book tells, for the first time, the full history of the British boys' periodical, from its origins in the second half of the 18th century to its decline after the Second World War. Beginning with educational and religious magazines, it follows the trail through the violent and sensational 'penny blood' which thrived between around 1830 and 1870, to early attempts to entertain as well as educate boys through monthly magazines, and the ground - breaking weekly story papers and 'penny dreadfuls' of Edwin J. Brett, beginning with 'Boys of England' in 1866, and his rivalry with the Emmett brothers and other publishers. It also looks at cheap periodical publishing for boys in America, before exploring the introduction of more 'respectable' periodicals such as the 'Boy's Own Paper' and 'Chums', and the attempts of a young Alfred Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe and founder of the Amalgamated Press, to usurp the 'penny dreadful' by producing the 'ha'penny dreadfuller'.0Also published by Oak Knoll Press, USA.