London Labour and the London Poor

Richly detailed and exhaustively researched, this survey of London's street denizens offers a unique blend of sociology and voyeurism. Originally published as newspaper articles in the 1840s, it captures the vivid and often harrowing realities of urban life. Celebrated by William Makepeace Thackeray as a "tale of terror and wonder," it presents a powerful depiction of human existence that is both captivating and disturbing, revealing the complexities of life in a bustling metropolis.