Mayhew's Characters. With a Note On English Character. From London Labour and the London Poor. Centenary Edition

Henry Mayhew (edited by Peter Quennell)

Published by William Kimber., London., 1951

About this Item

336 pages with 12 full page plates from original wood-cuts. Crimson cloth, black lettering, dustwrapper a little rubbed at extremes, but clean and all tight. *The book has been edited down, originally part of a 3 volume set published between 1851-62. The author was co-founder of Punch and a good journalist and wrote like one, 2 of his brothers were also writers, one became sub-editor of Punch, friends of Charles Dickens and may have some influence on his stance on poverty and voice for "improvement". He also remarkably, recorded voices in their natural narrative that still seem as alive today as the day they spoke to him. At the time some of the street traders formed an association to stop the itinerants from talking to him as they felt their lives were being in some ways "ridiculed". But they weren't, far from it. Truth often hurts. 41 Miniature autobiographies collected in this edition.

Seller Inventory # 5411

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mayhew's Characters. With a Note On English Character. From London Labour and the London Poor. Centenary Edition
• Publisher: William Kimber., London.
• Publication Date: 1951
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Thus.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good