London Low Life

Platform: Adam Matthew Digital

Colour digital images of rare books, ephemera, maps and other materials relating to 18th, 19th and early 20th century London. It is designed for both teaching and study, from undergraduate to research students and beyond. In addition to the digital documents, London Low Life contains a wealth of secondary resources, including a chronology, interactive maps, essays, online galleries and links to other useful websites. This collection brings to life the teeming streets of Victorian London, inviting students and scholars to explore the gin palaces, brothels and East End slums of the nineteenth century's greatest city. From salacious swell's guides to scandalous broadsides and subversive posters, the material sold and exchanged on London's bustling thoroughfares offers an unparalleled insight into the dark underworld of the city. Children's chapbooks, street cries, slang dictionaries and ballads were all part of a vibrant culture of street literature. This is also an incredible visual resource for students and scholars of London, with many full colour maps, cartoons, sketches and a full set of the essential Tallis Street Views of London a unique resource for the study of London architecture and commerce. We also include George Gissing's famous London scrapbooks from the Pforzheimer Collection, containing his research for London novels such as New Grub Street and The Netherworld.

Type
Primary Source
Subject
English and Creative Writing
History
British History
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Authorized users
Alumni
Students, faculty & staff
Access
Licensed
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