Customer Reviews
Compelling Account of Poverty in 1850s London - By: Andy, 10 Jul 2010 
The outstanding voice within this book is not,in fact, the author's. His prose is, I suppose, typical of the period: convoluted, complex & difficult to "scan". Presumably this was a way an author demonstrated how smart he was.
The authentic voices are those of his subjects, whose accounts of their own lives & those around them have the undoubted air of - nice word this - verisimilitude. He reports at length, & with probably only modest editing, their spoken statements.
It was a hard world, by these accounts; & very easy to slip from modest comfort into utter destitution, from which recovery seems to have been nearly impossible.
This is a highly recommended book, even for those who, like me, gave up history at age 13 & have never regretted it.
london labour and the london poor - By: S. laville, 21 Nov 2009 
extremely useful reference book. readable. rather gloomy! leaves one wondering whether things ever really change. best to read itin smallish chunks as it can be heavy goingin places. but well worth buying
a remarkable [hi]story - By: Peter Gordon, 23 Jul 2009 I agree with the other reviewersin almost every respect. I thought that I might quickly tire of it or at the very least skip too many facts. But I couldn't put it down. I like to think that most of the quotations were verbatim & I suspect that reportersin those days were far more able than those of today who are armed with tape recorders or vivid imaginations!
The people who he interviewed were for the most part, very interesting and, within the limits of their education, articulate. Pity did not enter into my feelings because the people were allin the same boat & were not, as we are now, wimpish.
I intend getting the rest of these books.
heart breaking and hard to read ( I found) - By: sarah-g, 10 May 2009 this book should be purchased more as a history book..not as a "reading"/novel as you can't really read it like that, at least i couldn't.
There is alot of info you might find yourself skipping/sifting through...but when you come to the personal accounts, then you read..and your heart breaks
Very worth reading, but quite depressing - i can do bleak quite happily, but this book is TRUE & very bleak which i found a bit of a killer
Excellent to buy for teenagers as a history book...it stops you moaning about silly things that's for sure
Please Lord may no child or person suffer like this again
God bless them all x
brilliant - By: Alan Macfarlane, 20 Feb 2009 This book is easy to read & full of very interesting facts & anecdotes. Not only are there many examples of the different types of occupationin Victorian London, but details are also given of the extent & income of each occupation & personal accounts, which means that it is not dry at all & a fascinating read. It was very interestingt to read about the real lives of people & the hardship they experienced & appeared to get used to!!
I could not put it down & would heartily recommend it to all.
