Of Street Piemen

Oct 7, 2024 2:32 AM

Author:Henry Mayhew

Of Street Piemen

'...a good bit of spice to give the critlings a flavour, and plenty of treacle to make the mince-meat look rich'

Radical Victorian reformer Henry Mayhew walked the streets of London interviewing ordinary flower girls, market traders, piemen and costermongers to create the first ever work of mass social observation, and the ultimate account of urban life - including an extraordinary description of the city from a hot air balloon.

Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.

Henry Mayhew (1812-1887). Mayhew's London Labour and the London Poor is available in Penguin Classics.

Reviews

Schama's greatest gift is a sure eye for an extraordinary story...This isn't what you get from conventional historians or conventional art writers, more's the pity...Schama has written books which will still be bought and talked about a century from now and he hasn't lost an ounce of zest or intelligence. Damn him...

—— Andrew Marr , Prospect

He knows the history, the biography, and the art history...he made me look and learn. He is a great storyteller and we learn something new on every page.

—— A S Byatt , New Statesman

All of these lives rendered with an acuity of detail that could rival the best of portraitists ... describing Lawrence's portrait of Wilberforce, Schama calls the painting a work of "transforming empathy". That phrase could be true of his storytelling throughout this book.

—— Ekow Eshun , The Independent

Schama has a masterly ability to conjure up character and vivify conflict

—— Financial Times on 'A History of Britain'

With Schama you look at a picture and see it as you hadn't before

—— Telegraph on 'Rembrandt's Eyes'

Splendid, spirited, immensely enjoyable and wide-ranging

—— Financial Times on 'The Story of the Jews'

Shows Schama at his best . . . as full of memorable incident as a Bellow novel and wittier than a Woody Allen movie

—— The Times on 'The Story of the Jews'

Schama writes with grace and wit, and his enthusiasms are contagious

—— Anita Brookner on 'The Embarrassment of Riches'

Dazzling, beyond praise

—— Sunday Times on 'Citizens'

Beautifully crafted and scrupulously researched… The Zhivago Affair is a prime example of hard work and fidelity to a good story

—— Washington Post Sunday

As gripping as any spy thriller

—— Sunday Times

Fascinating...With a delightful eye for detail

—— Catherine Merridale , The Times

Finn and Couvée deal objectively with the characters involved and tell the story with exceptional vivacity

—— Literary Review

A thrilling literary espionage yarn...sheds new light on the Cold War struggle for the hearts and minds of millions of people

—— Michael Dobbs

A fascinating tale that sheds new light on the literary front of the Cold War

—— Stephen Coulson , Lady

High dudgeon, high stakes, high art

—— Robert Bound , Monocle

A wonderful book

—— Angus Roxburgh , The Herald

A fast-paced political thriller about a book that terrified a nation

—— Kirkus Reviews

Brisk and thrilling...expertly told...a triumphant reminder that truth is sometimes gloriously stranger than fiction

—— Publishers Weekly

Groundbreaking reporting and character-rich storytelling... Passionately written...almost makes one nostalgic for a time when novels were so important that even the CIA cared about them

—— Ken Kalfus

A sparkling and fascinating account

—— David E. Hoffman

Well-paced narrative...of great relevance today, when such conflicts seem (but only seem) to have disappeared.

—— Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

Immensely compelling

—— Fred Hiatt , The Pat Banker

Meticulously researched

—— Duncan White , Irish Independent

The true strength of this meticulously researched book is the placing of the revelations into the context of a compelling human drama

—— Weekly Telegraph

Engrossing

—— Andrew Lynch , Sunday Business Post

[An] outstanding treasure of literature

—— Market Oracle

Impeccably researched, and moving, this book breaks new ground

—— 5 stars , Sunday Telegraph

Previous Article：A Visitor's Companion to Tudor England Next Article：William III & Mary II (Penguin Monarchs)

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.