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London's Shadows: The Dark Side of the Victorian City
In 1888 London was the capital of the most powerful empire the world had ever known, and the largest city in Europe. In the west a new city was growing, populated by the middle classes, the epitome of ‘Victorian values'. Across the city the situation was very different. The East End of London had long been considered a nether world, a dark and dangerous region outside the symbolic ‘walls' of the original City.
Using the Whitechapel murders of Jack the Ripper as a focal point, this book explores prostitution and pornography, poverty, revolutionary politics, immigration, the creation of a criminal underclass and the development of policing. It also considers how the sensationalist 'new journalism' took the news of the Ripper murders to all corners of the Empire and to the United States. This is the dark underbelly of London's Victorian history.
Using the Whitechapel murders of Jack the Ripper as a focal point, this book explores prostitution and pornography, poverty, revolutionary politics, immigration, the creation of a criminal underclass and the development of policing. It also considers how the sensationalist 'new journalism' took the news of the Ripper murders to all corners of the Empire and to the United States. This is the dark underbelly of London's Victorian history.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 18, 2014
Typical researcher that I am, I'm afraid I have been dipping in and out of this book to find out what it was like to be in the East End during the 1880s. But incomplete as my reading is, I have decided to review Drew Gray's book. You see, this it well written an well researched - in a word it is a joy.
Most books that deal with this period of London's history are sensationalist, focussing on the Ripper and his activities rather than looking at the context of the murder, the state of the East End; the ethnic mix, the geographical complexity of the situation. And for me, this is why this book scores highly.
Yes, the Whitechapel murders are the focal point of this book. It was the biggest "thing" to happen in the East End after all. And yet, through this book, I have learned about: the increasing professionalism of the police and the work of the courts; as well as what drove the women of whitechapel to prostitution and the desperate poverty and disease that was endemic in the area.
To be honest, this is one of the best books I have read about Victorian London in a a long time. If you want to know about the London underbelly you cannot go far wrong by reading this book.
Most books that deal with this period of London's history are sensationalist, focussing on the Ripper and his activities rather than looking at the context of the murder, the state of the East End; the ethnic mix, the geographical complexity of the situation. And for me, this is why this book scores highly.
Yes, the Whitechapel murders are the focal point of this book. It was the biggest "thing" to happen in the East End after all. And yet, through this book, I have learned about: the increasing professionalism of the police and the work of the courts; as well as what drove the women of whitechapel to prostitution and the desperate poverty and disease that was endemic in the area.
To be honest, this is one of the best books I have read about Victorian London in a a long time. If you want to know about the London underbelly you cannot go far wrong by reading this book.
April 14, 2019
An intriguing book that avoids the sensationalism of other Jack the Ripper studies to explore the context and facts.
The victims are dealt with more compassionately than any other writings I’ve read surrounded the Whitechapel murders. Drew Gray humanises them and does what he can to give them a voice.
He also explores the background to the murders and the nature of London (especially the East End) at the time. Rather than descending into mythology or wild speculation on the Ripper’s identity, the author looks into poverty, crime, and the identity and struggles of the poor.
The result is a surprisingly profound and moving book, that deals with the topic far more maturely than many writers.
The victims are dealt with more compassionately than any other writings I’ve read surrounded the Whitechapel murders. Drew Gray humanises them and does what he can to give them a voice.
He also explores the background to the murders and the nature of London (especially the East End) at the time. Rather than descending into mythology or wild speculation on the Ripper’s identity, the author looks into poverty, crime, and the identity and struggles of the poor.
The result is a surprisingly profound and moving book, that deals with the topic far more maturely than many writers.
March 23, 2022
i really enjoyed it.
picked it up for school but i would love a copy for my shelf to read again or to use as a resource going forward.
picked it up for school but i would love a copy for my shelf to read again or to use as a resource going forward.
February 14, 2017
A good book, allowing someone to get a 'feel' of this time and place. With pictures from newspapers and pamphlets it is both entertaining and informative.
The style however is very academic and dry and unfortunately I've found the book having some repetitions - how many times do I need to learn why were Jew immigrants disliked by the Londoners?
All in all, quite an interesting read.
The style however is very academic and dry and unfortunately I've found the book having some repetitions - how many times do I need to learn why were Jew immigrants disliked by the Londoners?
All in all, quite an interesting read.
December 30, 2013
This is an informative work, well researched and structured. Written in the way of an academic paper, the book makes many references to works by others as though we should be familiar with them. Whilst this should stimulate further reading, one is left wondering if the point made by this author is well taken. Nevertheless, the range and amount of knowledge imparted through this themed work is considerable and leaves the reader with a good sense of London life around 1880/ 90.
My own ancestors around that time (and before) lived and died in east and south-east London, and as a result of Dr Drew's book I now have a much fuller and more rounded view of their environment, the pressures and prejudices they faced, and their living conditions. In my view this book should be required reading for all students of nineteenth century London life.
My own ancestors around that time (and before) lived and died in east and south-east London, and as a result of Dr Drew's book I now have a much fuller and more rounded view of their environment, the pressures and prejudices they faced, and their living conditions. In my view this book should be required reading for all students of nineteenth century London life.
March 25, 2015
A few typos threw me for a loop but otherwise this is a highly enjoyable social history of late Victorian London inspired by the Ripper murders. From that launching point, you will learn a lot about disparate elements - the immigrant communities and the rich working-class culture of the East End, the role of the press and popular writing in driving social concerns and a host of other topics ably expanding on the questions of crime and culture in the nineteenth century capital. There's a bang-up chapter on press history that exposes how powerful a force newspapers and social crusaders were in reporting on these issues. Relatively light on "Ripperology", this would still be a great resource for anyone who wants to understand the context of those murders as well as the role of crime and British culture in the late Victorian era.
August 13, 2017
London's Shadows: The Dark Side of the Victorian City is well-researched and accessible to everyone, which makes it a welcome addition to existing historiography.
It highlights the tremendous social cost of the industry that, although contemporaries had recognized, could not find a valid remedy. Although London's streets could be cleaner and slums replaced by modern buildings and renovations, London's Shadows volume approach offers a remarkable reminder of issues such as poverty, deprivation and inequality - issues still problematic today as far back as 1880.
It's an outstanding book, very informative and easy to read. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Victorian Britain.
It highlights the tremendous social cost of the industry that, although contemporaries had recognized, could not find a valid remedy. Although London's streets could be cleaner and slums replaced by modern buildings and renovations, London's Shadows volume approach offers a remarkable reminder of issues such as poverty, deprivation and inequality - issues still problematic today as far back as 1880.
It's an outstanding book, very informative and easy to read. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Victorian Britain.
August 31, 2013
Rather than rehashing the Ripper murders and police investigation, this book looks at London's east end during the time all this was occurring. More of a social history study than a true crime tale, this tells of the people who inhabited Whitechapel and surround and the attitudes of a broader society towards them.
September 30, 2015
London's Shadows is a useful and interesting resource on all aspects of criminal London in the Victorian period. I found the chapter on newspaper reporting during the era most useful. It contains some fascinating stories about what defined crime in the age, and although I wasn't researching Jack the Ripper, would be a helpful resource for those who are looking at the city surrounding the crimes.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews