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London Labour and the London Poor

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'Lodon Labour and the London Poor' by Victor E. Neuburg and Henry Mayhew is a detailed exploration of the social events and extreme poverty experienced in 19th century England. The book provides firsthand accounts, in-depth descriptions, and interviews with individuals from various occupations, shedding light on the lives of the lower class in Victorian London. Mayhew's writing style is described as descriptive and keen, offering a window back in time to a period filled with sadness, suffering, and hardship.

Mayhew's work is commended for being a real eye-opener, providing a comprehensive look at the different facets of characters encountered in 19th century London, from deserving cripples to shiftless beggars. The book is considered an important resource for writers and those interested in British history, offering a detailed and non-judgmental portrayal of life in Victorian London.

Characters:

The characters include a wide range of individuals from different trades, portrayed with empathy and without judgment.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is rich in description, featuring keen observations and dialogues that immerse the reader in the lives of various characters.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative delves into the diverse struggles of different social classes in 19th century London, detailing professions and lifestyles from the honorable to the dishonest.

Setting:

The setting is 19th century London, with an emphasis on areas where the urban poor and working classes lived and worked.

Pacing:

The pacing is not particularly fast; while it can be read in segments, some sections feel lengthy.
But all of them being dead except Henry, who in his later years moved in rather a small circle, it was but natural that the world should regard the literary Mayhews as extinct. If the author of London...

Notes:

The book offers a detailed look at life for the poor in mid-19th century London.
Henry Mayhew conducted interviews with a wide range of people, including prostitutes and street vendors.
There are many descriptions of different occupations and social classes, highlighting their struggles and resilience.
Mayhew's keen observations include small details like walnut stains on fingers, bringing the content to life.
The book was originally published as a series of newspaper articles before being compiled into this classic.
It includes a variety of characters, from honest workers to dishonest thieves, reflecting the complexity of working-class life.
Illustrations and a map of old London provide visual context for the descriptions within the text.
While it's a dense read, there are selected editions available for those concerned about the length.
The editor's introduction is praised for being insightful and adds value to the reading experience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

High content warnings for themes of extreme poverty, suffering, and social injustice are present throughout the book.

From The Publisher:

'I go about the street with water-creases crying, "Four bunches a penny, water-creases."'

London Labour and the London Poor is an extraordinary work of investigative journalism, a work of literature, and a groundbreaking work of sociology. Mayhew conducted hundreds of interviews with London's street traders, entertainers, thieves and beggars which revealed that the 'two nations' of rich and poor in Victorian Britain were much closer than many people thought. By turns alarming, touching, and funny, the pages of London Labour and the London Poor exposed a previously

hidden world to view. The first-hand accounts of costermongers and street-sellers, of sewer-scavenger and chimney-sweep, are intimate and detailed and provide an unprecedented insight into their day-to-day struggle for survival. Combined with Mayhew's obsessive data gathering, these stories have an immediacy that

owes much to his sympathetic understanding and highly effective literary style.

This new selection offers a cross-section of the original volumes and their evocative illustrations, and includes an illuminating introduction to Henry Mayhew and the genesis and influence of his work.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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