MAY COTAIN MARKUP

Edited by Peter Quennell

Publication and Influence: First published in 1851, Mayhew’s work influencedCharles Dickens and provided a background for his novels. A new edition with improvements appeared ten years later, and a fourth volume was added in 1862.

Abridged Edition: Quennell’s edition focuses on the graphic and personal side ofMayhew’s survey, offering a detailed panorama of London in the1850s.

Social Classes: The book categorizes various street people, including costermongers, patterers, street performers, and mechanics, detailing their habits,amusements, and social dynamics.

Costermongers: A significant portion of the document is dedicated to costermongers, their unique slang, economic practices, and community life. It Discusses their gambling habits, political views, and interactions with the police.

Education and Language: The document highlights the uneducated state of costermongers, their distinctive slang language, and the education of their children.

Honesty and Conveyances: Insights into the honesty among costermongers, their conveyances, and the Smithfield races where they buy their donkeys.

Daily Life and Work: Costermongers operate in various parts of London, often in poorer neighborhoods, starting their day early to buy goods from markets like Billingsgate.

Economic Practices: Many do not own their stock or equipment, borrowing at high interest rates. They use slang weights and measures to maximize profits.

Spring Books, 1851, 592 pages