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London Labour and the London Poor originated in a series of newspaper articles written by the great journalist Henry Mayhew between 1849 and 1850. A dozen years later, it had grown into the fullest picture we have of labouring people in the world's greatest city in the nineteenth century- a four volume account of the hopes, customs, grievances and habits of the working-classes that allows them to tell their own stories. Combining practicality with compassion, Mayhew worked unencumbered by political theory and strove solely to report on the lives of the London poor, their occupations and trades. This selection shows how well he succeeded. From costermongers to ex-convicts, from chimney-sweeps to vagrants, the underprivileged of London are uniquely brought to life - their plight expressed through a startling blend of first person accounts, Mayhew's perceptions, and sharp statistics.… (more)
User reviews
There are personal accounts from nearly every possible occupation: musicians, vagrants, street traders, thieves, chimney sweeps and on and on. Their tales are usually deeply tragic and sometimes heartbreaking, self inflicted or not they are all stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty in Victorian England. Some tales are fascinating, such as the tricks of cheap photographers, a lively description of a penny theatre or the impact of the Poor act. It is all here in overwhelming detail.
This version also contains a brief intro of Henry Mayhew himself, placing the work in much needed context because as well as a study of the poor we also see the views of the middle classes though Mayhew's admonishments and hisselection of relevant essays.
There are some problems (whether with the abridgement or original text I could not say). Too Much time is spent on accounts of street traders wheras fallen women are non existent (I presume being too depraved to even consider!). I also found it just too much to read straight through but it's perfect for dipping into.