Boys will be Boys : The Story of Sweeney Todd, Deadwood Dick, Sexton Blake, Billy Bunter, Dick Barton et al.

The book Boys Will Be Boys by E.S. Turner, first published in 1948, is a richly researched and witty study of the British boys’ weekly story papers and penny dreadfuls genre. It traces the history of popular juvenile fiction heroes such as Sweeney Todd, Deadwood Dick, Sexton Blake, Billy Bunter, and Dick Barton, covering the development of the genre from the early Gothic horrors through to the 1940s. Turner explores the characters, stories, and cultural impact of these tales with humor and detailed knowledge, highlighting their appeal and social significance while also noting the responses and criticisms they attracted over the years. The book offers a unique social history perspective on this populist form of literature.