All Sorts and Conditions of Men [annotated]

by Walter Besant, Kevin A. Morrison (Editor)

First published in 1882, All Sorts and Conditions of Men chronicles daily life in the East End district of Whitechapel Road, where people go about their business with an air of quiet resignation. The arrival of Miss Kennedy, who wants to establish a dressmakers’ co-operative, causes great excitement, especially when it transpires she is a friend of Angela Messenger, heiress to a local brewing fortune. Meanwhile, Harry Goslet learns he is not an aristocrat but the son of a lowly army sergeant. Determined to return to his true roots, he moves to the East End, where he ends up in the same boarding house as Miss Kennedy. The two discover a mutual interest in social reform, imagining a People’s Palace of delight where the working classes can enjoy recreational activities as a reward for their labours. Nothing is quite what it seems in this magical microcosm, and soon their dreams are realised in the shape of a shimmering edifice that transforms the local community.

All Sorts and Conditions of Men combines the biting wit and social criticism of Dickens with the deft plotting of Shakespeare’s comedies. Whereas much of the fiction centred on the East End during this period catalogued scenes of sexual depravity and noisome slums, Besant’s novel depicts the respectable working classes and their relentless industry. Lamenting their monotonous existence and joyless surroundings, Besant argues for benevolent employers and better living conditions.

Although subtitled ‘An Impossible Story’, the novel inspired the building of the People’s Palace on Mile End Road, opened by Queen Victoria on 14 May 1887. The palace housed a concert hall/ballroom, a gymnasium, a library, a swimming pool, an art school, and a technical college. All Sorts and Conditions of Men is certainly a novel with a purpose, but one that achieved it aims in a remarkable legacy.

This edition includes:

* critical introduction
* explanatory footnotes
* original illustrations
* selection of contemporary reviews
* extracts from Walter Besant’s other writing on the East End
* extracts from selected texts on building the People’s Palace

Genres: Fiction

492 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Sir Walter Besant was a novelist and historian from London. His sister-in-law was Annie Besant. The son of a merchant, he was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire and attended school at St Paul's, Southsea, Stockwell Grammar, London and King's College London. In 1855, he was admitted as a pensioner to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1859 as 18th wrangler. After a year as Mathematical Master at Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire and a year at Leamington College, he spent 6 years as professor of mathematics at the Royal College, Mauritius. A breakdown in health compelled him to resign, and he returned to England and settled in London in 1867. He took the duties of Secretary to the Palestine Exploration Fund, which he held 1868-85. In 1871, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn.

Reviews

[Edward Janes · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second time reading this book which is one of my absolute favourites. A forgotten classic first published in 1882, it is set amongst the working poor in the East End of London. When millionaire Angela Messenger decides to live and work under another name in the East End to best see how to help the people, she meets Harry, the ward of a lord who wants to find his roots. Together hatch a plan on how to transform the area and the future of its residents.

Comedy, romance, sattire but most importantly a commentary on the working class, poverty and working condition that would itself lead to social reform a few years later.

[Dawn Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit wordy and wandering at places, but rather relevant to today's news. Themes of class, political rhetoric, philanthropy, community organization vs. government intervention--and a neat little love story.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very odd novel. An impossibility in the stark reality of the working conditions of the Victorian period. However, a really wonderful support to the discussion of working conditions, and the philanthropy that was taking place in the period to help elevate the working classes.