Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet: An Autobiography

by Charles Kingsley

This Elibron Classics edition is a facsimile reprint of a 1892 edition by Macmillan and Co., London.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, 19th Century

355 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1850

About the author

Charles Kingsley was an English clergyman, university professor, historian, and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and north-east Hampshire.

He was educated at Helston Grammar School before studying at King's College London, and the University of Cambridge. Charles entered Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1838, and graduated in 1842. He chose to pursue a ministry in the church. From 1844, he was rector of Eversley in Hampshire, and in 1860, he was appointed Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge.

His writing shows an impulse to reconfigure social realities into dream geographies through Christian idealism.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

As one of the first novels to really support the rights of the English poor its descriptions of both rural and urban destitution are interesting accounts that did influence some public thought. However, as a novel, Kingsley's tale is often long winded, dense and in the case of some characters unreadable.

While this Chartist novel is an important text for the movement and for literary analysis of the time period I wouldn't recommend it as a 'classic read'. For an easier time I'd stick with Dickens.

[pearl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read a book about tailors, so, well, here I am. Will I regret this? We shall see!

Update:
Boring and kind of smarmy because of the protagonist, though (of course) I liked the parts about the tailoring business. May pick it up again later.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off good but devolved into pages of political haranguing and almost unreadable Scottish brogue before ending with three chapters on how loving Jesus will fix all of our societal ills.

Second reading: ditto.

[Nina Tweddle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it very hard work to get through this novel. Even though I read lots of Victorian novels, the writing style and tedious plot made this very hard going. I wonder if Charles Kingsley really understood the lives of the working poor that he describes?

There are some good passages but they are hidden amongst an awful lot of boring bits.

One of the characters, Sandy Mackaye is "very Scottish" and it is hard work reading his dialogue and does not really add any usefulness to the plot.

I have to say that I'm not surprised that this book has not retained it's popularity. If you want to read about the life of working people jn the Victorian era I recommend books by Charles Dickens & Elizabeth Gaskell as far more enjoyable and informative than this one.

[Laura Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not the best book ever but I love it anyhow.

[TonyWS · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally just worse Dickens…

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

That cholera, although a condition alluded to in the background of Alton's experiences, might not actually have a large role in the story as I'd thought when I saw that Mackey's "The Cholera Chaunt" was reprinted within it. Seems its an example of a poem young Alton thinks of as poetic perfection. I don't think I can agree... neither would Vendler.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best thing about reading this book is reading all the books you can read after reading this book.