ABSTRACT
LikeGissing,WalterBesantcametowriteabouttheworking classesthroughhispersonalcontactwiththeLondonslums.His response,however,wastotallydifferent:
Inr88oandinr88IIspentagreatdealoftimewalking aboutthemeanmonotonyoftheEastEndofLondon.Itwas notanewfieldtome.Thatistosay,Ihadalreadyseensome ofit...butIhadneverbeforerealisedthevastextentofthe easterncity,itswonderfulcollectionofhumancreatures;its possibilities;theromancethatliesbeneathitsmonotony;the tragediesandthecomedies,thedramasthatarealwaysplaying themselvesoutinthishugehiveofworkingbees.1
