Mayhew's London - a true insight (London Labour and the London Poor - Henry Mayhew)

Member Name: lula71

Product:	London Labour and the London Poor - Henry Mayhew
Date:	04/05/09 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to read, fascinating, great for students of nineteenth-century lit.

Disadvantages: The novelistic descriptive quality sometimes leaves the authenticity questionable

'London Labour and the London Poor' is an incredible collection of factual accounts of those poor individuals living on the margins of nineteenth-century society. Put into writing by journalist Henry Mayhew, it was originally predicted to be a largely unbiased, unmediated representation of the lower-classes, yet nonetheless, Mayhew's sympathies shine through.

**So who exactly does Mayhew write about?**
Glancing over the contents page you could be forgiven for thinking Mayhew has included a representative of nearly every line of work pertaining to the nineteenth-century poor - we are given accounts of mud-larks, costermongers, 'pure'-finders (who collected dog-excrement shall we say), scavengers, flushermen, and so on. However, the book arguably doesn't offer an entirely comprehensive vision of the Victorian poor, due to the complete absence of those involved in domestic roles, creating the impression that Mayhew has focussed on the more distressing cases, such as the child mud-lark whose 'trousers were worn away up to the knees, had no shirt, and his legs and feet (which were bare) were covered with chillblains,' the cases that will shock the reader into sympathy.

However, while Mayhew appears sympathetic, typical nineteenth-century prejudices are nonetheless visible as the author categorises the poor according to their physiognomic qualities, suggesting poverty to essentially be their intended role. Similarly he repeatedly makes assumptions as to the huge number of 'ragged' children that must live in their houses, highlighting the social fears of multiplying poor, fears that fuelled the strict diet, and separation of husbands and wives in the dreaded Workhouse. In addition he graphically describes the filth with which these poor creatures are associated, somewhat negating the sympathy otherwise enlisted.

** Is there a social message?**
While Mayhew's study was supposed to be impartial, he nonetheless repeatedly expresses somewhat radical opinions for the period, undermining social hierarchy, criticising the New Poor Law Act, and advocating social reform, making this book invaluable for studies of nineteenth-century society.

**Worth reading?**
'London Labour' is a fantastic read, hugely insightful and in places shocking. Part of Mayhew's skill lies in his ability to reproduce such accounts in a readable manner, making them almost novelistic and thus an interesting and enjoyable read. Well worth reading for a better understanding of nineteenth-century society as a whole... it reads rather more like a collection of short stories than a collection of studies.

Definitely recommended.

Summary: Definitely worth a read.