Workhouse Characters, and other sketches of the life of the poor

The author, Mrs Nevinson, was a social worker and she relates these heart wrenching tales arising from her work in London in the the early nineteenth century. The book is a series of short case studies and she describes her encounters with the sick and impoverished who fell prey to the iniquitous British "Poor Laws". She writes with warmth and compassion, even finding occasional moments of humour. The publicity which this book received caused some outrage and led to a softening of official attitudes.
Simon Boyle
Lowestoft UK