A Grim Almanac of the Workhouse

For two centuries, the shadow of the workhouse hung over Britain. The recourse of only the most desperate, dark and terrible tales of malnutrition, misery, mistreatment and murder ran like wildfire through the poorer classes, who lived in terror of being forced inside the institution's towering walls - and, as this collection proves, all of them were true! This book contains 365 incredible tales of fires, drownings, explosions and disasters, infamous scandals such as the Andover affair - where inmates were forced to eat the bones they were supposed to be crushing to ward off starvation - and sickening tales of abuse, assault, bodysnatching, poisonings, post mortems and murder. Accompanied by seventy rare and wonderful illustrations, this book will thrill, fascinate, sadden and unnerve in equal measure.

Auteur

PETER HIGGINBOTHAM, who lives in Yorkshire, runs the website www.workhouses.org.uk. An expert on the subject of many years' standing, his previous titles include The Workhouse Cookbook, Life in a Victorian Workhouse, Workhouses of the North and Workhouses of the Midlands and Voices of the Workhouse.