The Blackest Streets
The Life and Death of a Victorian Slum
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:4th Jun '09
Should be back in stock very soon
This book explores the harsh realities of life in a notorious Victorian slum, revealing the social injustices that persist today.
In 1887, government inspectors were dispatched to investigate the Old Nichol, a notorious slum situated on the boundary of Bethnal Green parish. This area, known for its extreme poverty, was home to nearly 6,000 inhabitants crammed into a mere thirty streets filled with decaying dwellings. The mortality rate here was alarmingly high, nearly double that of the surrounding areas. The author meticulously uncovers the historical context of the Old Nichol, revealing the social and political dynamics that fostered this grim environment, which lay at the very heart of the Empire.
The Blackest Streets is a compelling exploration of the darker aspects of Victorian London, penned by the award-winning historian Sarah Wise. Through her vivid narrative, Wise brings to life the struggles of the tenants living in these dire conditions, while also highlighting the interests of those who profited from their misery, including local politicians and church leaders. The book delves into the complexities of urban living during a time when revolution was palpable, showcasing the juxtaposition between the lives of the impoverished and the affluent.
This revelatory work not only sheds light on a forgotten chapter of London's history but also resonates with contemporary issues of class and inequality. The insights presented in The Blackest Streets encourage readers to reflect on the ongoing challenges faced by urban communities today, making it a significant read for anyone interested in social justice and historical inquiry.
The Blackest Streets is an excellent and intelligent investigation of the realities of urban living that respond to no design or directive...This is a book about the nature of London itself -- Peter Ackroyd * The Times *
A revelatory book...beaming the light of impartial historical research into the horrible dens and alleys. It avoids the voyeurism that such books often fall into: Wise describes the terrible conditions dispassionately, bringing out the resilience and self-respect of the slum-dwellers -- John Carey * Sunday Times *
Read it and be flabbergasted * New Statesman *
She is a sure-footed guide. In each strand of enquiry she has something new and surprising to say -- Jerry White * Times Literary Supplement *
Sarah Wise has created an exceptional work, in that it is both scholarly and page turning - a genuine treat -- Gilda O'Neill
Sarah Wise is too clever and considered a historian simply to give us a lurid, one-dimensional Victorian melodrama. Through painstaking archival work and readable empathetic prose, she has instead sought to evoke the texture of life here * Daily Telegraph *
The account is both moving and engrossing, and its tendency in places to become a litany of misery and despair is redeemed by Sarah Wise's light and occasionally humorous touch * Literary Review *
As with her previous book The Italian Boy, Sarah Wise is superb on statistical detail... In every respect this is a note-perfect work of social history, thoroughly researched, charitable in its sympathies, and sadly still embodying lessons for today * Independent *
Carefully researched... a wide-ranging study * Sunday Telegraph *
Her achievement is remarkable... This engrossing work shines a light not only on a turbulent period in London's history, but on humanity itself. Only the best histories can claim as much * Guardian *
ISBN: 9781844133314
Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 26mm
Weight: 303g
352 pages