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Vagabonds

Life on the Streets of Nineteenth-century London – Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2023
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( 232 ratings, 60 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Vagabonds by Oskar Jensen, readers are taken on an intriguing journey through Europe's urban underbelly from medieval times to the modern era. The book delves into the lives of vagrants, examining how these often-overlooked individuals navigated harsh social systems and left a surprising impact on the cultures and societies they inhabited. Combining historical analysis with vivid storytelling, the narrative sheds light on the resilience and resourcefulness of those living on the fringes.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring the untold stories of history, particularly focusing on the lives of those on the fringes of society. It provides a fresh perspective on the past, showcasing the adventures and struggles of individuals who often go unnoticed in traditional historical narratives.

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Dickensian London is brought to real and vivid life in this Wolfson History Prize-shortlisted portrait by a rising-star historian and New Generation Thinker.

'Vagabonds is a collection of exquisite stories... Jensen is the real deal; I’ve never encountered a historian quite like him’ The Times, Book of the Year

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Vagabonds by Oskar Jensen brings Dickensian London to real and vivid life in this Wolfson History Prize-shortlisted portrait by a rising-star historian and New Generation Thinker.

Until now, our view of bustling late Georgian and Victorian London has been filtered through its great chroniclers, who did not themselves come from poverty—Dickens, Mayhew, Gustave Doré. Their visions were dazzling in their way, censorious, often theatrical. Now, for the first time, this innovative social history brilliantly—and radically—shows us the city's most compelling period (1780-1870) at street level.

From beggars and thieves to musicians and missionaries, porters and hawkers to sex workers and street criers, Jensen unites a breadth of original research and first-hand accounts and testimonies to tell their stories in their own words. What emerges is a buzzing, cosmopolitan world of the working classes, diverse in gender, ethnicity, origin, ability, and occupation—a world that challenges and fascinates us still.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vagabonds by Oskar Jensen has been praised for its rich research and compelling writing, offering a vivid portrayal of the lives of London's nineteenth-century poor. Critics describe it as both informative and captivating, highlighting Jensen's ability to bring marginalised historical figures to life with sensitivity and scholarly rigour. The book provides an insightful and moving account of the resilience, creativity, and human spirit of those who lived on the fringes of society during this period.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780715654958

Publisher: Duckworth Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 February 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Duckworth

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Oskar Jensen is an author and academic with a doctorate in History from Christ Church, Oxford. He has held positions at King's College London and Queen Mary, University of London, where he was a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, and he is now Senior Research Associate in the department of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies at the University of East Anglia. Oskar writes for New Statesman, has appeared on BBC1's Who Do You Think You Are? and BBC Radio 3 and 4, and was the historical advisor for the 2018 ITV/Amazon production of Vanity Fair. Vagabonds is his first trade non-fiction book.

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