Routledge Rogues and Vagabonds - British Social History Book

Explore the hidden side of British social history with Rogues and Vagabonds by Lionel Rose. Originally published in 1988, this Routledge Revival offers a detailed look at the lives of the street poor from 1815 to 1985. This book examines the realities of the Victorian underworld, where individuals turned illicit peddling, begging, and petty crime into a way of life. Readers will learn about the legal frameworks used to manage the poor, including the 1824 Vagrancy Act and the evolution of policing. The text traces the transition from the workhouse casual ward systems and common lodging houses to the modern era of Social Services and local authority provisions established in the 1940s. This work provides a comprehensive view of how society has responded to poverty and street crime over two centuries, making it a valuable resource for students of law, history, and sociology.