The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of the author's experiences as a social worker among London's poor. It explores themes of poverty, inequality, and the struggles of women in Victorian society. The story follows Mrs. Riddell, a middle-class woman who becomes involved with a group of working-class people and learns about their lives through her work at a settlement house.
By Helen C. Black · First published 1868 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, Historical