c.1894-1904, fair condition, binding is tight, no loose pages, some pencil on last endpapers. The Water-babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby is an 1863 novel by Charles Kingsley that follows Tom, a chimney sweep who transforms into a water baby and embarks on a moral and spiritual journey. Originally a serial for Macmillan's Magazine, the book was intended as a satire to support Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species but became a classic of British children's literature, blending fantasy with social commentary on Victorian society, education, and poverty. 
Plot Summary
The story begins with Tom, a young, neglected chimney sweep who is forced to work in the dark, dirty flues of a wealthy home. After being chased by the homeowner's daughter, Ellie, Tom flees and falls into a stream, where he drowns and is reborn as a "water-baby". In this new, magical world, he meets various aquatic creatures and undergoes a series of adventures and moral lessons, eventually reaching St. Branden's Isle. 
Themes and Context
Evolutionary Theory:
The novel was written to satirize pseudoscientific alternatives to Darwin's On the Origin of Species, incorporating evolutionary concepts into Tom's journey of transformation and moral development. 
Social Satire:
Kingsley uses the story to critique the Victorian education system, the harsh working conditions of children, and the prevailing social attitudes of the time.
 
Moral and Spiritual Growth:
Tom's transformation from a dirty, uneducated boy into a clean, morally upright water baby symbolizes a journey of spiritual and physical purification. 
Children's Literature:
The Water-babies is considered a landmark work in children's literature, demonstrating that a children's book could be a vehicle for complex adult concerns and ideas.