Drawing on personal, historical, sociological, psychoanalytic, literary and artistic sources, this compelling book explores the tensions and contradictions implicit in notions of children and childhood. It examines how children can at once represent innocence, beauty and hope, while at the same time are neglected, disenfranchised and abused. Wide-ranging and provocative, this exploration of what 'the child' means, and has meant, to adults, will appeal to students and professionals across many disciplines, as well as to the interested general reader.