Victorians and the Case for Charity

This collection of all new essays seeks to answer a series of questions surrounding the Victorian response to poverty in Britain. In short, what did various layers of society say the poor deserved and what did they do to help them? The project is organised against the backdrop of the 1834 New Poor Laws, recognising that poverty garnered considerable attention in England because of its pervasive and painful presence. Each essay examines a different initiative to help the poor. Taking an historical tack, the essayists begin with the royal perspective and move into the responses of Church of England members, Evangelicals, and Roman Catholics; the social engagement of the literati is discussed as well. This collection of essays reflects the real, monetary, spiritual and emotional investments of individuals, public institutions, private charities, and religious groups who struggled to address the needs of the poor.

"a fine contribution to social history...highly recommended"--Choice "This is a fascinating and often moving study of how Victorian poverty was experienced, how Victorian charity was practiced, and how Victorian religion was lived. Its solid scholarship contributes to a topic historians need to rediscover."--Dr. Jonathan Rose, Drew University (New Jersey); "Victorians and the Case for Charity: Essays on Responses to English Poverty by the State, the Church and the Literati, edited by Marilyn D. Button and Jessica A. Sheetz-Nguyen, is a monumental accomplishment. Their collaboration illumines the idealism and energy of the Victorian era as it sought to meet the crushing needs of the impoverished. The heroes and heroines of this bygone era come to life as they courageously implement ways and means to better the sufferings of the poor who lived on the dark side of the industrial revolution. The roots of contemporary efforts to assist the needy in terms of health, education, moral training and spiritual hope are clearly seen and inspire the reader to investigate and perhaps emulate their altruism."--Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

Marilyn D. Button is a professor of English at Lincoln University, USA. She lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Jessica A. Sheetz-Nguyen is an assistant professor of History at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, USA. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.