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  1. I was just about to shut done my computer for the night when I saw the notification of your review and I had to read it. It sounds like, although grim reading, this would be an excellent book for anyone needing authentic details of childhood in Victorian times or anyone interested in social history.

    1. Thanks, Mary. My thoughts exactly. As I mention in my review, I was aware of some aspects of it, but not the full extent.It was an eye-opener, for sure and it would be very useful for people researching the period.

  2. The treatment of the poor (and poor children too) by Victorian society is heartbreaking to read about, and a shame on the nation.
    Books like these need to continue to be written, as a reminder that we should never go down that path again.
    Best wishes, Pete.

    1. Thanks, Pete. You are right. Sometimes we idealize parts of our history but we forget the price many paid for it, especially those who never make it into the big history books. Have a great Wednesday.

  3. Thank you for this review, Olga. I agree with Pete. We need to learn from the past.
    We certainly don’t need to try and erase it, pretending the shameful things didn’t happen. The book sounds fascinating, even if difficult, and very worthwhile. “tells us a great deal about what society was like at the time.”
    Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday. Hugs.

    1. Thanks, Teagan. Yes, you’re right. And, unfortunately, in some places, things haven’t changed that much yet. Good luck with NaNoWriMo and congratulations on your book being the book of the month at Hugh Roberts’s wonderful blog.

  4. Lilyn G says:

    No creo que pudiera leer esto porque debido a mi perdida de niña, pero a mi me gusta tu reseña del libro. Creo que parece que seria un libro muy interesante. Ahora, leyendo un libro sobre modelos de patentes en historia. 🙂

    1. Gracias, Lilyn. Había leído algunas de tus reseñas y blogs donde mencionas tu pérdida. Lo siento mucho. Hay libros sobre ciertos temas que son más difíciles de leer debido a nuestras experiencias personales. Hace poco reseñé un libro sobre un paciente que sufre demencia y varias personas comentaron que debido a los recuerdos que les traía el tema y a sus historias familiares no era algo que se sientieran con ánimos de leer. El libro que estás leyendo suena interesante. El que me acabo de leer para el grupo de Rosie es de una chica que muere en un accidente, pero he empezado uno que se supone es una versión juvenil de La importancia de llamarse Ernesto de Oscar Wilde, así que espero que sea divertido. Y también estoy leyendo un libro sobre el teatro en la época Victoriana.
      Gracias por el comentario y muy bien tu español.

  5. dgkaye says:

    Wow, sounds like an intense and gruesome read. I think I’ll pass on this one, but great review. 🙂

    1. Thanks, Debby. Yes, it has its very harsh moments but it is also good to reflect on how much circumstances have changed, at least in some places. Have a good Thursday.

      1. dgkaye says:

        You too Olga, thanks. 🙂

  6. Thank you for this review, Olga. I actually did know quite a lot of this and Charles Dickens, of course, highlights the terrible plight of children during the Victorian era in many of his books. Sadly, child headed families are very common still in Africa.

    1. Yes, I did think about Charles Dickens at the time, although I’m not sure one gets a sense of the scale of the situation (and the many places where they were working, like in ships, mines, factories…). Children’s lives were not valued too highly at the time. And yes, the situation is not so much better these days in so many places. Thanks, Robbie and have a great weekend.

  7. Terrific review, Olga, albeit it intense. I was struck by ‘modern children having little freedom compared to their Victorian counterparts.’ Prior to reading this, I would have guessed the opposite. Your reviews are amazing in their detail ♥

    1. Thanks, Tina. Of course, I think it might have been a class thing, but most children would play on the streets (the ones that had any time to play, that is) and it is not surprising there were so many accidents (apart from foul play sometimes, there were a lot of drownings and getting run over). The level of supervision was also low (normally older siblings would be in charge, but “older” might only mean a couple of years older and they would often be children themselves). And school was not yet compulsory or oganised. The book does point out at how much circumstances have changed and how, fortunately, the welfare of children is taken much more seriously than then. At least in most places. I recently watched a wonderful movie called Lion (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3741834/?ref_=nv_sr_2) and it made me think, for sure.
      Have a great Sunday.

      1. Incredible trailer, Olga. Just added to my Netflix queue. Thanks so much for mentioning it ❤

        1. It is a very touching film, Tina, and based on a true story. I knew Dev Patel already, but the young boy is amazing. I hope you enjoy it.

          1. Thanks, Olga. I’m sure I will ❤

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