Helen Bannerman
Helen Bannerman, born on February 25, 1862, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a notable author best known for her 1898 children's book, *The Story of Little Black Sambo*. Raised in diverse environments due to her father's role as an army chaplain, Bannerman received her education primarily from him before attending school in Scotland. She later pursued further studies through correspondence courses, as women were not admitted to her university of choice. She married William Burney Bannerman, a surgeon in the Indian Medical Service, and they lived in India for thirty years, where they had four children.
*The Story of Little Black Sambo* emerged during her travels to visit her daughters, blending unique illustrations with rhythmic storytelling, which was innovative at the time. The book was one of the first to feature a black hero in children's literature and was initially celebrated for its portrayal of black characters. However, as societal attitudes towards race evolved, the book faced significant criticism, particularly for its later illustrations that diverged from its original context. Bannerman authored several other children's books that continued to feature South Indian children as protagonists, emphasizing their intelligence and resourcefulness. She passed away on October 13, 1946, in Edinburgh, leaving behind a complex legacy in children's literature.
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Helen Bannerman
Fiction & Children's Literature Writer
- Born: February 25, 1862
- Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died: October 13, 1946
- Place of death: Edinburgh, Scotland
Biography
Helen Bannerman was born Helen Brodie Cowan Watson on February 25, 1862, in Edinburgh, Scotland. She married William Burney Bannerman in 1889, and they had four children.
Bannerman spent most of her childhood abroad, since her father’s career as army chaplain took him to various parts of the British empire and to Madeira, off the west coast of Africa. She was educated by her father until the age of ten and then was sent to school in Scotland. She later studied French and German; she received an L.L.A. from St Andrew’s University, London, through a correspondence course because the school did not admit women.
Bannerman’s husband was a surgeon in the Indian Medical Service, and the couple spent thirty years in India. William Burney Bannerman worked in Madras and the couple’s children spent a season each year in the hills with their nanny to prevent them from contacting the plague and other tropical diseases. Bannerman remained with her husband in Madras but often journeyed by train to visit her children. Her best known book, The Story of Little Black Sambo, was written during one of these trips to visit her two daughters, Janet and Day. Bannerman also illustrated the book. Her friend, Alice Bond, took the book to London, where a publisher purchased the copyright for thirty pounds. The book, published in 1898, was still in print ninety years later.
At the time of publication, the bright, unrefined illustrations, suspenseful narration, and rhythmic, repetitive sentences were considered unique. The small size of the book, also a new feature, made it easy for a child to hold. Critics have noted that The Story of Little Black Sambo presented one of the first black heroes in children’s literature, and the book was initially regarded as a positive portrayal of black characters in comparison with other books of that time. However, as racial consciousness grew in Britain and the United States in the mid-twentieth century, the book became an object of harsh criticism and heated debate. The controversy partly was fueled by the fact Bannerman did not hold the copyright for her work, which allowed later editions to be illustrated with images that were more African than the Indian drawings in the original book.
Bannerman subsequently wrote several other children’s books. The illustrations of the heroes show them to be recognizably south Indian or Tamil children. The plots have no racist overtones and usually celebrate the intelligence and ingenuity of the children.
Bannerman’s husband died in 1924, and she died on October 13, 1946, in Edinburgh, Scotland.