I am a little begrudging of wealthy people reporting on the downtrodden, but London is hardly up there with the Bono's of this world. Though, this book is patronising at times. To my mind, the book forms two parts; one as a partcipant, the second has a sociological exercise. The former is interesting, engaging and full of characters, the latter, while informative is a bit of a labour to read through - expect repetition. That being said, a good exposure to the realities of the other half.

The author sometimes says things that betray a weak character (and the racism, sexism, and horrific beliefs of the time), but otherwise it’s an eye opening and intently horrific book well worth reading.

Yazıldığı döneme ışık tutan bir eser.

Jack London her zamanki gibi okuruna gerçekliği hissettirebilmek için incelediği topluluğun içine karışarak onlardan biriyken gözlediklerini aktarmış. Yoksulluğun topluluk kurallarıyla çatıştığı, hayatın gerçeklerinin tokat gibi yüze çarptığı sorgulatan bir kitap.

Alıştığımız romanları gibi değil, bambaşka bir tür ve tarz ama kalemin sahibi London olunca öğretici ve düşündürücü.

Interesting, sometimes pedantic, amateur sociologist look at the poor in London in the early 20th century.

Holy condescension, Batman! The stars are for the stories he related. Not so much his commentary.

A lesson in living for all

This is an amazing book that will stay with you! The American author Jack London goes undercover in London’s East End, swapping his clothes and living the life on a ordinary working person. What he finds is extreme privation and a life that is so incredibly unjust and full of suffering. Having close family connection to the East End it is shocking reading of the conditions only 80 years before I was born. In 1902 if you lived in London’s West End you had a life expectancy of 60 years but only 30 if you lived in the East End. A great memorial to all the working men, women and children of the East End