Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #562658 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 458 pages

Customer Reviews

Historical Picture
In the preface, the author tells us she is struck by the paradox found in London during the era of time covered. She observed both extreme disorderliness, "yet beneath the turbulence, an essential orderliness" (p. 9). It was a period of rigid class distinction. The book paints a portrait of what life was like in the various levels of society. London experienced sudden and unmanageable growth, dating back to the end of the sixteenth century. The society was litigious, which caused a growth in that segment of the culture. The litigious element dated back centuries George claims. Christianity was an integral part of London life. "Methodism doubtless counted for much both as a civilizing influence among the people and as one of the channels of the growing spirit of humanity and the growing knowledge of the pooer sort" (p. 26) she writes. She quotes John Wesley (1753)as saying "so wickedly, devlishly false is that common objection, they are poor only because they are idle."

George uses statistics appropriately in painting her portrait. She tells us that between 1700 and 1820 the population of London doubled, going from 674,000 to 1,274,000. She attributes this growth to the fact that food prices fell, there was a demand for labor, wages increased, and the standard of living improved generally. Going back to class distinctions, she notes "already in the sixteenth century the distinction had begun to show itself between the industrial districts east of the City and south of the Thames, and a district of wealth and leisure stretching towards Westminster and the Court" (p. 73). She goes on to discuss the trend toward general education. In short, she successfully captures an era and a location.