Victorian James Platt, gives a viewpoint contemporary to his time on the causes and methods of fighting poverty, along with the effects on its victims. Included is much comment on poverty in the "past," in other words the view of the past made from the view point of over a century ago.

If you wish to research poverty in the context of Victorian history (or even just poverty), being contemporary, this book is much more in touch than any modern text can ever be. One interesting fact that comes across as you read "Poverty," is how much remains unchanged between the 19th Century and the 21st. Will a commentator on "Poverty" still be able to say the same in the 22nd Century?

Those interested in Politics, and the history of Politics, will be particularly interested in the chapter on Socialism, it being written sixteen years before the first Labour MP's were elected (Keir Hardie and Richard Bell).