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''Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship'' is the first book on the Scout Movement , published in 1908. It was written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell , its founder. It is based on his boyhood experiences, his experience with the Mafeking Cadet Corps during the Second Boer War at the Siege Of Mafeking , and on his experimental Camp On Brownsea Island , England . It is the fourth bestselling book of the 20th century. HISTORY The book ''Scouting for Boys'' (1908) is Baden-Powell's rewrite of his earlier Military books ''Reconnaissance and Scouting'' (1884) and ''Aids to Scouting for NCO's and Men'' (1899). These earlier books were Military Manuals used by the British Army to train its Scouts . At Mafeking, Baden-Powell recruited and trained boys aged 12-15 as postmen, messengers, and later on to carry the wounded, to free up the men for the actual fighting. Upon his return to England, immediately following the Boer War , Baden-Powell learned that some British schools had been using his books to teach boys lessons on Observation and Deduction . He decided to revise his military publications into a book for boys. Several friends supported Baden-Powell in this idea, including Sir William Alexander Smith , founder of the Boys' Brigade , and Cyril Arthur Pearson , who owned several newspapers and printing presses.1 In 1906 and 1907 Baden-Powell spent a lot of his time writing ''Scouting for Boys'' and advancing his ideas about the Boy Scouts Scheme. These were tested in a Camp On Brownsea Island in the summer of 1907, where Pearson's literary editor Percy Everett assisted. ''Scouting for Boys'' was first published in six fortnightly instalments of approximately 70 pages each, from January to March 1908. They were produced by Pearson's printer, Horace Cox. These six publications were a success, and as planned were issued in book form on 1 May 1908 . ''Scouting for Boys'' has been translated into many languages. In 1948, the book was still selling 50 000 copies annually. Only in 1967 was a decline noted by the publisher, and in the last decades of the twentieth century, even by the Scout movement, the book came to be seen as a period curiosity. It is the fourth bestselling book of the 20th century.2 TRIVIA "Scouting for Boys" is mentioned in the Pink Floyd song " Welcome To The Machine ," from the album Wish You Were Here ." EDITIONS
CONTENTS All parts of the six installments in 1908 have the title ''Scouting for Boys'' in big capitals. With a listed price of ' 4d . net', it was affordable to many boys, many of whom would have been at work, as the school-leaving age was 14. Authorship is attributed: 'by B-P (Lieut. Gen. Baden Powell C.B.)' (sic). Most chapters start with hints to instructors. All chapters have Campfire Yarns , appealing to boys, most contain sections with games and activities, and they close with recommendations for books to read. The first edition contains some material which in today's culture would be considered racist and imperialistic (a good example being the play in which the Indian Mehtab Singh is humiliated in front of his White British colonial masters). This was edited out in later editions. Part I. Scoutcraft The first instalment contains pages 3 to 70. It provides the basic details of scouting. Part II. Tracking, Woodcraft The second part covers pages 71 to 142. It contains chapter II on tracking and chapter III on woodcraft, each with three camp fire yarns. Part III. Camp life, Campaigning The third part covers pages 143 to 206. It contains chapter IV on camp life, and chapter V on campaigning. Part IV. Endurance and chivalry The fourth part covers pages 207 to 270. It contains chapter VI ''Endurance for scouts, or How to be strong'', and chapter VII ''Chivalry of the knights.'' Part V. Saving life, and patriotism The fifth part covers pages 271 to 334. It contains chapter VIII ''Saving life, or how to deal with accidents'', and chapter IX ''Patriotism, or our duties as citizens.'' Part VI. Notes for instructors, Scouting games, practices, and displays The sixth part covers pages 335 to 398. It contains ''Notes to instructors'' and ''Scouting games, practices , and displays'' COPYRIGHT STATUS The British ). SEE ALSO Other notable books related to Scouting include: REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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