Vagabonds: Life on the Streets of Nineteenth-century London - by BBC New Generation Thinker

A Wolfson History Prize-shortlisted social history that provides a new perspective on Dickensian London by showing the city's most compelling period ({PHONE}) from the street level, featuring a diverse range of working-class individuals and their stories.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: Duckworth Books

Until recently, our understanding of bustling late Georgian and Victorian London has been shaped by the accounts of great chroniclers who did not themselves experience poverty. Figures like Dickens, Mayhew, and Gustave Doré painted vivid portraits of the city, but their visions were often limited and censored. Now, for the first time, this groundbreaking social history offers a fresh perspective on the city's most captivating era (1780-1870).

Through a wealth of original research, firsthand accounts, and testimonies, Jensen brings to life the stories of a diverse range of individuals who lived in the city during this period. From beggars and thieves to musicians and missionaries, porters and hawkers to sex workers and street criers, these individuals form a vibrant and cosmopolitan world of the working classes. Their experiences, diverse in gender, ethnicity, origin, ability, and occupation, challenge and fascinate us still.

Jensen's innovative approach to social history shines through in this captivating book. By focusing on the experiences of ordinary people, he provides a humanizing lens that challenges our preconceptions and sheds light on the complexities of 19th-century London. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, social justice, and the human experience.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780715654958