Campaigns of Curiosity: Journalistic Adventures of an American Girl in Late Victorian London

by Elizabeth L. Banks

Banks (1870-1938) gained international fame as an investigative reporter for her "Campaigns of Curiosity" series in London newspapers in the 1890s. In their new introduction, English professors Schriber (emeritus, Northern Illinois U.) and Zink (Western Connecticut State U.), situate her impact as an early female journalist. Period illustrations help set the tone. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Victorian, British Literature, Womens, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2003

About the author

Elizabeth Brister Banks was an American journalist and author.

Reviews

[OLT · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this is not a novel. It's a collection of actual newspaper articles written in the 1890s by American journalist Elizabeth Banks (1872-1938), recounting some of her "undercover" experiences in Victorian English society. This was quite the find for me. It's a fascinating read by a pioneering woman who lived a fascinating life. (Just google her. You'll be amazed. College graduate, then typewriter girl, then society reporter, then secretary at the American Consulate in Peru, then "stunt journalist", and, upon her move to London, an investigative journalist for publications such as THE DAILY NEWS, PUNCH, ST. JAMES GAZETTE, LONDON ILLUSTRATED and REFEREE. She also worked to promote women's suffrage and counted as friends or acquaintances George Bernard Shaw, John Galsworthy, Thomas Hardy, H.G. Wells and suffragette Henrietta Marston. She made major contributions to British intelligence before and during WWI and worked to draw America into the war. Well, wow. Maybe even more admirable than better known journalist Nellie Bly.)

She wrote about the plight of the lower classes and the articles included here are the result of her undercover work as (1) housemaid, (2) street sweeper, (3) Covent Garden flower girl, and (4) laundry girl. In addition there's a section on the "Almighty Dollar" in which she recounts her experiences posing as an American heiress seeking help breaking into upper class society. She shows how some English aristocrats sold their social influence with only regard for making money. However, she also exposes the "shoddiness" of some of these Americans looking for upward mobility.

When Banks originally set off for England in 1892 (I believe), her parting injunction by her editor was "Don't forget that you are an American and are going to England simply to compare the inferiorities of that country with the superiorities of your own." And, indeed, one of her first articles upon arriving was "An American Girl's Reply to Mr. Kipling" printed in response to Kipling's criticisms of America in the Times. That was the beginning of her journalistic career in London.

This collection of articles was originally published as CAMPAIGNS OF CURIOSITY; Journalistic Adventures of an American Girl in London, published in 1894. In it she relates her adventures and her insights into life as a lower-class working girl. The articles are a great look at how these women lived and, although not completely unbiased, are a rather fair expose of working conditions and the relationship of upper and lower classes. This is an informative read, well written with surprising modern writing style, and with some great understated humor.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was remarkable in so many ways. First, that the author was an employed female journalist in 1894. That alone is impressive but the fact that she goes undercover into several job positions for research purposes takes quite a bit of fortitude and nerve, even in present times. She was very forward thinking and must have been an exceptional woman. Her ideas and opinions are more the norm for 2013 rather than over 100 years ago.

[Stan Skrabut · Rating 5 out of 5]

History is always fascinated me. I love to look into other worlds and other times to see how people dealt with the day to day. Recently, Bernadette and I have started to watch Downton Abbey , a show about Victorian England and the different classes of people. So far, I have enjoyed watching how the aristocratic and servant classes work together in their society. It is interesting to see their struggles as well as the cooperation and support they provide each other. This series prompted me to learn more. I was fortunate to come across the book written by Elizabeth L Banks called Adventures of an American Girl in Victorian London*. Readmore

[Mélanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce qui est le plus intéressant dans cet ouvrage, c'est la partie historique, qui témoigne d'une époque, d'un cadre de vie. Car la journaliste qui rédige ces témoignages fait preuve d'un certain parti pris, très souvent persuadée qu'elle sait, mieux que les autres, comment il faudrait agir. Que si les autres respectaient ses conseils, ils (et surtout elles) feraient bien mieux leur travail. Et cela même si elle le découvre seulement et ne le pratique que quelques jours en tout dans sa vie.
Son ton est donc parfois un peu agaçant. Elle est très donneuse de leçons, cherche un peu beaucoup à se faire valoir. Mais elle a le mérite de faire du journalisme d'immersion à une époque où ce n'était pas très attendu des femmes, et à pointer du doigt certains milieux méconnus des lecteurs, y compris ceux de son époque.

Ca reste donc intéressant à lire. Informatif aussi, même si parfois un peu superficiel. Disons plus un journalisme de magazine qu'une enquête de fond.

[Jan Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and Witty Observations

This is a set of stories written by a female journalist as she explored London, circa 1890s. They are both interesting and funny, as the author wrote with great intelligence and humor about conditions of the working class women of her time. Miss Banks immersed herself in the jobs she was researching and poked fun at herself in the meanwhile, while making suggestions (mostly improbable) to improve the situations. She also included comparisons of English traditions and culture to those of America. Her piece on American heiresses coming to England to marry into society was familiar, but still fun, as she kindly skewered the British snobs. Highly readable and recommended for everyone interested in Victorian life, the history of labor, and even women's rights.

[Amy Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This interesting book is a compilation of newspaper articles written by an American in London. Banks took several temporary jobs doing "menial" jobs and wrote about her experiences. I thought her views were fairly balanced in that she doesn't side too heavily with either the labor or the management. Still, her background as a "lady" unused to manual labor comes through heavily, and she has a strong desire to improve the working class to make them more like herself. Because it is a series of newspaper articles, the book is fairly light, and it's an interesting read.

[Jay Daze · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part love the reportage of Banks investigating late Victorian London. Selling entry and husbands I was familar enough with writers like Henry James, but the lives of maid servante, laundry woman and street sweeps was really interesting. Only wish there was more of the voices of the workers -- Banks does get in the way with her own opinions which are more revealing of middle class thought which has been well covered elsewhere.

[Patricia V. Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working Girls of London

This book shows the contrast between the underprivileged and privilege of women in Victorian London. This era is usually described where the lady of the upper class is pampered in life. Reading this book allows the reader to see how hard life was the the majority of women .

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun this book is! The author was an American journalist in the late 1800's and was on assignment in London where she got different jobs like housekeeper and laundry worker, and even tried her hand at street sweeping! She writes about her experiences in a most enjoyable fashion, using wit and wisdom.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Victorian-era example of embedded journalism, as Miss Banks takes on work as a serving girl and laundry worker to better understand the lives of these working-class poor folks. Not particularly insightful but a charming read.

[Tina Cefaratti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awfull !

After reading this book, I was appalled at the working conditions at this period in England. Not to be bred into the upper class, must have been very degrading ! What a eye opener for this American journalist, more than I could do !

[Wendy DeWachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

She goes undercover in various low class jobs and documents her experiences, not all bad, a look at what life was really like for the real people. If you like this book and want more in-depth knowledge of life for the poor read The Five : Jack the Rippers victims life stories.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have trouble sleeping, this is the book for you. I could not keep my eyes open! Somewhat interesting but wrote in a style that is very dull. Morning, noon or night it put me to sleep.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une très chouette source concernant l'histoire des "petits métiers" du Londres de la Belle Epoque...

[S.R. Simmonds · Rating 1 out of 5]

No comment

Just a mediocre book with not much to keep me interested. I don't recommend it. Not a great book. Description of Victorian London are not even very interesting.

[stephanie suh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this book was written in an armchair perspective of a priggish journalist who would only report by hearsay or with cavalier attitude toward working class, then I would not have even bothered to pick it up in the first place. What attracted me to this book was an excerpt bespeaking the author's telltale recounting of the story as an ambitious, enterprising journalist who dared to work undercover as a domestic maid and a laundry worker in Victorian London during which the social conditions of the working class, not to speak of women's social positions, plummeted to a dismal low as the rise and the prosperity of the bourgeoisie was skyrocketed especially in London. Although Ms. Bank's motivation of writing this book arose from her achievement of journalistic ambition, her candor, analytical mind, and diligence should be esteemed highly in the discourse of her artless recounting of working experience. In fact, this book itself is a valuable historical and anthropological record of social conditions and cultural aspects of the 19th century London., guiding readers to her veni, vidi vici adventure thereof.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

intesting take on English life in the late 1800's and the way of life of a typical mail. One wonders if this is a memoir or a concoction of a 21st century novelist. However as depicted , she seems to meld into life as a maid without too much difficulty. The fact that she was an American reporter leaves me to suspect this to be a fabrication. Was interesting

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing autobiographical account of an intrepid women writing for a journal in London. She goes undercover to discover what it is to work the various jobs open to women in Victorian England. Very readable and extremely interesting.

[SirDemilo Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it!...

Reading about a time long gone; I love reading about history first hand account. It's better than fiction because life is sometimes stranger than fiction.

[Michelle Schacht · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent example of the beginnings of immersive journalism and muckraking. Offers an interesting look at a world long gone.