James H. Treble

Urban Poverty in Britain 1830 – 1914 – a classic

When you are building a historiography of the urban working-class in Victorian England, Urban Poverty in Britain 1830- 1914 is a classic. There have been many books about the middle-classes over the years, but never as many about poverty.

It was not until the likes of EP Thompson and EJ Hobsbawm in the 1960s showed that there was a fascinating history waiting to be discovered. This text from James H Treble in 1979, was an excellent addition to the canon of literature.

This does book asks some important questions as it tries to delineate the principal causes of poverty, as well as examining any expedients that were employed by the poor to mitigate some of the consequences of urban poverty.

Some may not like this book, as it does not sugar coat the Victorian period, it does not talk about the Victorian ‘family’ and everything about the idealised Victorian way of life. Which other than in works of fiction, did not reflect the reality of 75% of the British population. Most of the population were in poverty, and unlike even Charles Dickens’ s stories even less ever escaped from poverty, that really was a figment of the imagination.

By examining the plight of the poor in towns in the 19th century is to highlight one of the many problems brought by industrialisation and urbanisation. James H Treble examines all the major causes of poverty – low pay, casual labour, unemployment, underemployment, sickness, old age, amongst many factors. He is also not afraid to highlight the many tropes of the Victorian middle-classes towards the poor.

This is a thorough account of the poor, written in an engaging way, which all students of history should be able to admire.… (mais)