POVERTY AND PROSTITUTION A Study of Victorian Prostitutes in York

Hardback. The author examines the lives of 1,400 prostitutes and brothel-keepers in York from 1837 to 1887. Drawing on extensive primary sources —magistrates’ court reports, workhouse records, census notebooks, and slum clearance documents — she challenges romanticised views of Victorian prostitution. The book reveals the grim reality of street-walkers’ lives, marked by poverty, desperation, alcoholism, disease, and frequent imprisonment. It explores the social and geographical origins of these women, many from impoverished backgrounds, and their clients, highlighting the harsh conditions of York’s slums. Individual stories, supported by photographic evidence, illustrate the tragic brevity of their careers. The author also examines failed reform efforts, like the refuge for “Fallen Women,” and critiques the societal prejudice they faced. This pioneering social history underscores the intersection of poverty and prostitution, offering a sobering corrective to earlier interpretations. Illus., Conclusion, Notes, Bibliog. and Index. 231pp. 8vo. h/back. F. in Nr. F. protected dw. which has sl. faded sp. Scarce.