| Description |
The question of living standards during the Industrial; Revolution in England has been hotly debated among economic; historians. Central to the disagreement is the debate over how; standard of living should be measured. Some feel that monetary; measures very accurately portray living standards. Others see; these measures as inadequate and have sought alternative measures; such as infant mortality rates. These other measures have; produced quite different conclusions regarding standard of; living, and it seems that the more the issue is studied, the; more divisive are the results. Furthermore, the available data; from the period is very incomplete, which leads to broad assumptions; by researchers interpreting the data, such that the same; figures may be interpreted in two entirely different ways.; In the search for greater understanding of living conditions; in Industrial England, this essay will examine the fiction; and journalism produced during the period of English Industrialization.; It shall explore the usefulness of fiction as a source; of evidence and consider the most important authors of the; period. The research shall focus largely on Charles Dickens, the; eminent 'Industrial' author.; This essay will also examine certain key non-fictional; accounts that exemplify the working-class lifestyle. By researching; what was written (and read) during the Industrial; Revolution, some insight may be gained as to the actual living; conditions in which English workers found themselves. These; first-hands accounts of working class experiences can help to; fill the gaps that a more traditional historical inquiry leave; unexplored. |
