In many circumstances the gender of the author of the novel will affect the way that the story, characters, meaning, and more will be perceived. Personally there have only been a few novels that I have read where the gender of the author completely affected my outlook and ideas. For some readers the gender of the author is essential but I only agree with this in certain cases. Concerning, Little Lord Fauntleroy, I do not consider the gender of the author necessary or essential to understanding the story or to understanding the characters in the correct light.
Within Children’s literature the ultimate goal was to create guidelines for children to grow up in this new American society even though the basic foundations for children’s literature were challenged all of the time. This novel presents a young boy and the perfect model for a young boy along with the right way for husbands to treat their wives. It is a tale presenting a number of morals and I believe that both men and women would agree on the positive influences the text is trying to create. “His greatest charm was this cheerful, fearless, quaint little way of making friends with people. I think it arose from his having a very confiding nature, and a king little heart that sympathized with every one, and wished to make every one as comfortable as he liked to be himself” (446). The qualities of Ceddie throughout the text are qualities that men and women would want children to obtain throughout their lives. Both men and women authors pay specific attention to details and write novels about morals. “He was above doing anything mean or dishonorable. He would not steal, or cheat, or impose upon younger boys, but was frank and straightforward, manly and self-reliant. His nature was a noble one, and had saved him from all mean faults” (Alger, 342). This short passage from Ragged Dick is one of many where there are detailed descriptions and contain a view of good morals for young children to have and the author could easily be male or female and make no difference. “The way in which the red legs flew and flashed up and down, the shrieks of the boys, the wild efforts of Billy Williams, whose brown legs were not to be despised, as they followed closely in the rear of the red legs, made him feel some excitement” (475). I think this is another passage within our story that shows specific detail but the gender of the author is not necessarily important.
Overall I think the gender of the author and its importance when reading a novel really depends. For some it may be vital and for others it may not make a difference and in this case I do not believe it did. There are definitely a number of novels that I have read that could not have been written if it were instead by a male. Within Little Lord Fauntleroy, I believe the author was creating a character for children and adults to love and identify with in some ways, which the author accomplished regardless of the gender.
I think you make a good point when you say that when you actually read books, the gender of the author doesn't play a role as to how you look at the characters. I feel like this perspective is very realistic because until I really thought about it, it didn't cross my mind! In all the books I had read, I had always interpreted the characters through my eyes and circumstances and didn't really think one way or another what the author's gender biased perceptions were!
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