1851; Or, The adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys and family, who came up to London to enjoy themselves, and to see the Great Exhibition.

Name: 1851; Or, The adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys and family, who came up to London to enjoy themselves, and to see the Great Exhibition.
Author: Henry Mayhew

By Henry Mayhew

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British Literature Humour Novels

About This Book

The narrative follows a provincial family and a parade of eccentric visitors who flock to London for the Great Exhibition, offering a satirical series of sketches of popular enthusiasms and commercial opportunism. It catalogs preparations and spectacles—novel entertainments, crowded lodgings, patriotic displays, exotic performers, and publicity schemes—while lampooning class pretensions, travel mania, and the commodification of culture. Interleaved illustrations emphasize comic character types and urban bustle as the capital adapts to unprecedented crowds and entrepreneurial exploits.

About the Author

Henry Mayhew

Henry Mayhew was a prominent English social researcher, journalist, and playwright, best known for his extensive work on the lives of the working class in Victorian London. His seminal series, "London Labour and the London Poor," published in four volumes, provides a detailed and vivid account of the struggles and conditions faced by the city's laborers. Mayhew's writing is characterized by its empathetic portrayal of the poor and its commitment to social reform. In addition to his investigative journalism, he authored the novel "1851; Or, The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys and Family," which reflects the excitement and challenges of the Great Exhibition era. His contributions have left a lasting impact on social literature and the understanding of urban life in the 19th century.