The Workhouse is a well researched and annotated retrospective look at the history and background of workhouses and the harsh realities faced by poor people before the more progressive ideas of a social safety net with benefits was a reality. Originally published in Great Britain in 2007, this reformat and re-release out 31st March 2021 from Pen & Sword is 224 pages and will be available in paperback format (other editions available in other formats).
I love the Victorian era in theory. I love the literature, the music, the dress, the civilized aspects. In short, I love the curated sanitised version provided in a modern BBC costume drama and would have in actual fact decried the squalid and desperately short lives of the actual reality of the time (and probably been locked up and/or beaten to death for my troubles). This interesting and fairly comprehensive guide gives a glimpse into the grim realities of the day-to-day lives of people who lived then, from the historical recollections and contemporaneous period writings.
Written by Dr. Simon Fowler, it's a meticulously researched, layman accessible academic treatise on the realities surrounding the establishment and administration of poor/work houses as one practical arm of the Poor Law. The book is laid out in a logical manner, with historical realities and day-to-day life of the inhabitants of workhouses followed by individual topic chapters including the working poor, different class divisions of the poor, destitute children, the sick and infirm, and modern workshouse museums and exhibitions. A cross-referenced index makes specific information easy to find quickly. The appendices are packed with good information on how to winnow information from historical sources for family genealogy research, as well as modern day workhouse museums/exhibits to visit. The bibliography is substantial and will provide many hours of further reading.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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