Tales about the sun

Samuel Goodrich was a prolific 19th century American writer for children: writing as Peter Parley he published over 100 titles with sales of many millions. His style was simple and highly readable and his books were attractively presented with numerous illustrations. Writing on subjects as diverse as mythology, astronomy, travels and geography, his popularity led to pirate editions being published in England. Even after he made an amicable arrangement with the English publisher Thomas Tegg, that publisher and others continued to issue unauthorized editions, even portraying Parley as a British sailor to Goodrich's consternation.

Peter Parley books were factual and entertaining, using the then popular question and answer or conversation method. Tales about the sun, moon and stars explains to young children the universe as it was then known. It is interesting to see that Uranus, only discovered in 1781 by William Herschel, is shown by Parley to be known as Uranus or Georgium Sidus (George's Star). Herschel's choice of name for the planet was not popular outside of England and the name Uranus was adopted from the mid-19th century.

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