Showing results by author "Henry Mayhew" in All Categories

London Labour and the London Poor is a rare and fascinating insight into the lives and struggles of the 19th-century poor. Written by journalist and reformer Henry Mayhew, a founder and editor of the satirical magazine Punch, it collects hundreds of testimonials from the lower strata of Victorian society. We encounter street entertainers, 'pure finders', cabinetmakers, gingerbread sellers, 'screeve-fakers', swindlers, and burglars. We hear accounts from toshers finding items in sewers, people attempting to train pigs to dance, and witness the sale of everything from gilt watches and chickweed to needles, dog collars, and eel soup.

In this compelling fourth volume, subtitled A Cyclopaedia of the Condition and Earnings of Those That Will Work, Those That Cannot Work, and Those That Will Not Work, Henry Mayhew delves into the lives of those who refuse to engage in labor, including prostitutes, swindlers, thieves, and beggars. Co-authored with Bracebridge Hemyng, John Binny, and Andrew Halliday, this 1862 publication meticulously chronicles the struggles of Londons poor. The work highlights the stark realities of society, revealing the nuanced conditions faced by different groups. Note that arithmetical errors have been ...

Dive into the poignant world of Victorian London through the eyes of its impoverished inhabitants in London Labour and the London Poor Volume I. Subtitled A Cyclopaedia of the condition and earnings of those that will work, those that cannot work, and those that will not work, this landmark work by Henry Mayhew reveals the raw realities of the working class. Published in 1851, Mayhews meticulous research sheds light on their struggles, resilience, and the everyday lives of the poor in their own words. With a compelling narrative that aims to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, this ...

This compelling volume, subtitled A Cyclopaedia of the Condition and Earnings of Those That Will Work, Those That Cannot Work, and Those That Will Not Work, dives deep into the lives of Londons underprivileged. Through the words of the people themselves, it reveals their labor, earnings, struggles, and the raw realities of their existence. Mayhew’s meticulous observations create a vivid portrait of the conditions within their homes and families, bringing to light the often-overlooked heroism amid adversity. His aspiration is to bridge the gap between the affluent and the impoverished, ...

A unique collection of eyewitness accounts from some of the greatest diarists and journal writers of the last two centuries.