In 1877, journalist Adolphe Smith and photographer John Thomson co-published a book about London's street life.
The rarely seen, Victorian-era images are like something out of a Charles Dickens novel.
Thomson's photos give a glimpse into the lives of the marginalized men and women who eked out an existence on London's streets as flower sellers, chimney sweeps, shoe polishers, cab drivers, and locksmiths.
Titled simply "Street Life in London," the documentary-style photographs were paired with Smith's interviews with the subjects, exposing their social conditions, perseverance, and way of life.
The London School of Economics Digital Library gathered the entire collection together with quotes from the original book. Keep reading to see a snapshot of 19th century London.
These women sold flowers in Covent Garden. According to Smith, their children were trained to be sell flowers too so that if the mother died, the child could take over their specific spot outside of the church.
Source: LSE Digital Library
This woman fell into abject poverty after being kicked out of her home by her son-in-law. Smith refers to her as a "crawler" because beggars literally crawled along the street begging for food and money.
Source: LSE Digital Library
Unlicensed shoe polishers were a big problem in London in the 19th century. They were often saved from arrest by local shop keepers who used them as errand boys and to help put up the shutters at night.
Source: LSE Digital Library
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