Mayhew's Characters

Henry Mayhew, with two collaborators. interviewed thousands of people found in the London streets, recording their life stories in their own words. With a keen sense of curiosity, an eye for detail, and a fascinated interest in violence and horrow, Mayhew's characters are immensely rich portrayals from the lips of the people themselves, reflecting the comedy, tragedy and reality of the London streets in Victorian times. His interviewees describe their labour, earnings, trials and sufferings, portraying the condition of their homes and their families in their own `unvarnished' language. This edition includes black and white drawings of some of the people...