Beggars All: A Novel

by Lily Dougall

Beggars A Novel is a work of fiction written by Lily Dougall and first published in 1893. The novel tells the story of a young woman named Beryl Mercer who is forced to confront the harsh realities of life in late 19th century London. Beryl is the daughter of a wealthy businessman and has grown up in a sheltered and privileged world. However, when her father dies suddenly, she is left penniless and must fend for herself in a city full of poverty, crime, and desperation.Beryl quickly learns that life as a beggar is not easy. She struggles to find food and shelter, and must navigate the dangerous streets of London to avoid being robbed or worse. Along the way, she meets a variety of characters, including other beggars, street vendors, and even a wealthy philanthropist who takes an interest in her plight.As Beryl struggles to survive, she also grapples with questions of morality and social justice. She begins to see the world in a new light, and realizes that the wealthy and privileged have a responsibility to help those less fortunate. The novel is a powerful commentary on the social inequalities of the time, and a call to action for those in positions of power to do more to help the poor and disadvantaged.Overall, Beggars A Novel is a compelling and thought-provoking work of fiction that explores important themes of poverty, social justice, and the human condition. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of London, or in the struggles of the working class during the late 19th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

476 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

Lily Dougall (1858–1923) was a Canadian author whose work explored religious and philosophical themes.

Reviews

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esther Thompson's family lost its land and wealth in America. Now she is living in a humid and dark cellar in a dilapidated tenement in London. Her sister is handicaped, her mother is sick. She makes a small living as a shop girl, but the money by far is not enough to feed three persons. In great dispair, Esther answers a wedding advertisement and meets a young man called Hubert Kent. When he promises to support the family financially, Esther decides to marry him only a few weeks later. Her mother, a religious woman, is shocked. But Esther is surprised she is so happy with her lot, once married. Still, she sometimes wonders how Hubert, who works as a journalist, can afford to support three women...
"Beggars All" from 1893 is not a great novel, but it is a very good and quite catchy read, especially if you did not expect it to be of any interest.