The People Of the Abyss
by London, Jack
The experiences related in this volume fell to me in the summer of 1902. I went down into the under-world of London with an attitude of mind which I may best liken to that of the explorer. I was open to be convinced by the evidence of my eyes, rather than by the teachings of those who had not seen, or by the words of those who had seen and gone before. Further, I took with me certain simple criteria with which to measure the life of the under-world. That which made for more life, for physical and spiritual health, was good; that which made for less life, which hurt, and dwarfed, and distorted life, was bad.It will be readily apparent to the reader that I saw much that was bad. Yet it must not be forgotten that the time of which I write was considered "good times" in England. The starvation and lack of shelter I encountered constituted a chronic condition of misery which is never wiped out, even in the periods of greatest prosperity.Following the summer in question came a hard winter. Great numbers of the unemployed formed into processions, as many as a dozen at a time, and daily marched through the streets of London crying for bread. Mr. Justin McCarthy, writing in the month of January 1903, to the New York Independent, briefly epitomises the situation as follows:-"The workhouses have no space left in which to pack the starving crowds who are craving every day and night at their doors for food and shelter. All the charitable institutions have exhausted their means in trying to raise supplies of food for the famishing residents of the garrets and cellars of London lanes and alleys. The quarters of the Salvation Army in various parts of London are nightly besieged by hosts of the unemployed and the hungry for whom neither shelter nor the means of sustenance can be provided."It has been urged that the criticism I have passed on things as they are in England is too pessimistic. I must say, in extenuation, that of optimists I am the most optimistic. But I measure manhood less by political aggregations than by individuals. Society grows, while political machines rack to pieces and become "scrap." For the English, so far as manhood and womanhood and health and happiness go, I see a broad and smiling future. But for a great deal of the political machinery, which at present mismanages for them, I see nothing else than the scrap heap.
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On Oct 5, 2010, ctjjc55 said
This is a very interesting book set in London in the first decade of the twentieth century. You can read it as a social history as long as you remember what Alexander Masters writes in the foreword to the book; 'as an objective, trustworthy analysis, Abyss won’t do at all'.In 1902 Jack London moves temporarily into East End, disguised as a poor inhabitant. He observes and tells us about how the poor in East End live and how they go about their daily chores.Even if not everything in the book is considered trustworthy the stories tell us a lot of the persistence of social inequality in Britain. The atmosphere is vividly described and all that happens in the book seems genuine.Besides the stories of different people there are statistics, all showing the misery the working class lived in during the first years of the twentieth century.All together the book is absolutely worth reading, especially if you are interested in the history of England.
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People of the Abyss
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1903
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Baldwinsville, New York, USA
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NZ$2,715.01
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New York: The MacMillan Company, 1903. First Edition . Cloth. Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. [photographs]. Near Fine. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1903. First Edition [BAL 11877], Sisson & Martens p. 15. Signed and inscribed by Becky London to her friend Mark Zamen. Photographically illustrated. Hefty octavo, xiii,[1],319,[1]+[3]ad pp. Gray/Blue cloth stamped… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$2,715.01
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The People of the Abyss.
by LONDON, Jack
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- Used
- Edition
- First (English) edition
- Published
- 1903
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- Original cloth
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- 1
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Belfast, Belfast, GBR
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NZ$1,277.70
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PARTICULARLY BRIGHT COPY
first (English) edition 8vo. xiv, 322pp., 24 photo plates., original deep pink cloth attractively blocked in gilt on front cover and spine, very nice bright copy with a neat first owner's name on end paper. Uncommon, and rare in this condition.
A blunt account of his two… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$1,277.70
The People of the Abyss: 100th Anniversary Collection
by London, Jack
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- Used - CollectibleVeryGood
- ISBN
- 9781948132596
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- 1
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Wantage, New Jersey, USA
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NZ$17.02
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CollectibleVeryGood. 1982 Star Rover House Press 2nd edition, limited to 1000 copies. Very well kept complete copy, light wear, unmarked with well kept jacket (if issued), may have exowner inscription. We take great pride in accurately describing the condition of our books and media, ship within 48 hours, and offer a 100% money back guarantee. Customers purchasing more… Read more about this item Item Price
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The People of the Abyss: With original illustrations
by London, Jack
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- Used; Good
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9798599237808
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- 1
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Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
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NZ$8.92
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Independently published. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped… Read more about this item Item Price
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The People of the Abyss
by London, Jack
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- Used - Very Good
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- No Dust Jacket
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- First Edition
- Published
- 1903
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- Blue Cloth
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- 1
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Pasadena, California, USA
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NZ$880.89
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New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. First Edition . Blue Cloth. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. 8 1/2" Tall. Photographs Throughout. Xiii, 319 Pp. Blue Cloth Stamped In Gilt And Black, Top Edge Gilt, Foredge And Bottom Edge Deckled. Publishing Date 1903 On Title Page, And October 1903 On Copyright Page. First Issue Blue Binding [There Is… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$880.89
The People of the Abyss
by London, Jack (1876-1916)
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- Used
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- 1st edition
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- 1903
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- Hardcover
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Galway, IRL
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NZ$510.66
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London: Isbister & Co, 1903. 1st edition. Hardcover. Provenance: Bookplate of Clare Knowles. Finely bound in half aniline calf over boards. Frontispiece accompanied with a guard sheet. Publisher's device. Spine compartments uniformly tooled in gilt. Particularly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: xiv, 322 pages; (8º); illustrated. Subjects:Stories. Collections. London Social conditions. London (England) Social conditions 20th… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$510.66
The Austere Academy (#5)
by Snicket, Lemony
- Condition
- Used - Good with no dust jacket
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- No Dustjacket
- Published
- 2000
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- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780064408639
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Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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NZ$8.43
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HarperCollins, 2000. Hardcover. Good with no dust jacket/No Dustjacket. Item Price
NZ$8.43
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
by London, Jack
- Condition
- As New with no dust jacket
- Edition
- First Paperback Edition; First Printing
- Published
- 1995
- Binding
- Softcover
- ISBN
- 9781556521676
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Fairfield, Pennsylvania, USA
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NZ$25.53
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Lawrence Hill Books. As New with no dust jacket. 1995. First Paperback Edition; First Printing. Softcover. 1556521677 . New copy! Foreword by Micaela di Leonardo ; 388 pages . Item Price
NZ$25.53
The People of the Abyss
by Jack London
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2007
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781406814934
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- 1
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Chester, GBR
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NZ$13.42
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plum: Echo Library, 2007. Paperback. Good. Condition clean. A graphic investigation of London's slum conditions Item Price
NZ$13.42
The People of the Abyss
by Jack London
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1993
- ISBN
- 9781556521676
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- 1
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Swanton, Vermont, USA
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NZ$22.98
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Lawrence Hill Books, 1993. PAPERBACK. Cover is a little worn. Text is unmarked. No creases in the spine. Item Price
NZ$22.98
The People of the Abyss
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Dust Jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1903
- Binding
- Blue Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Pasadena, California, USA
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NZ$957.49
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New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903. First Edition . Blue Cloth. Very Good/No Dust Jacket. 8 1/2" Tall. Photographs Throughout. Xiii, 319 Pp. Blue Cloth Stamped In Gilt And Black, Top Edge Gilt, Foredge And Bottom Edge Deckled. Publishing Date 1903 On Title Page, And October 1903 On Copyright Page. First Issue Blue Binding [There Is… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$957.49
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS.
by London, Jack.
- Condition
- Used - Upper corner of page xi torn away, slight discoloration to endpapers, crease to upper corner of a page of text, else a very goo
- Edition
- First Canadian Edition
- Published
- 1903
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Fort Bragg, California, USA
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NZ$468.10
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Toronto: George N. Morang & Co., 1903. First Canadian Edition. Hardcover. Upper corner of page xi torn away, slight discoloration to endpapers, crease to upper corner of a page of text, else a very good copy, quite clean and unworn. xiii, 319 pp., frontispiece (with tissue) and 80 illustratons from photographs, many full-page, original dark blue cloth… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$468.10
The People of the Abyss
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2004
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781556521676
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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NZ$19.13
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Lawrence Hill Books, 2004. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
NZ$19.13
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- Reprinted
- Published
- 1904
- Binding
- Hardcover
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- 1
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
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NZ$76.60
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New York and London: The Macmillan Company, 1904. Reprinted. Hardcover. Octavo, 319 pages. In Fair condition. Mild age toning exteriorly with few small chips to the head/tail edges. Spine blue with gilt lettering. Boards have moderate exteriorly with whitish soiling as well as rubbing wear to the spine and head/tail edges. Text block has moderate age toning to the… Read more about this item Item Price
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The People of the Abyss. With Jack London Photographs and Drawings by Gustave Dore
by London, Jack.
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Edition
- Reprint Edition
- Published
- 1980
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780934710039
- Quantity Available
- 1
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GRASS VALLEY, California, USA
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NZ$76.60
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Joseph Simon. Fine. 1980. Reprint Edition. Hardcover. 0934710031 . 203 pp.; 8vo; gilt lettered green cloth back & illustrated paper over boards, in slipcase. Forward by Clarice Stasz. A nicely executed fine press edition of the prophetic depiction of economic class struggle and revolution. . Item Price
NZ$76.60
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The People of the Abyss
by Jack London
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+
- Jacket Condition
- none
- Edition
- Later Edition
- Published
- 1907
- Binding
- Orange cloth with debossed designs and white titles
- Quantity Available
- 1
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San Rafael, California, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$127.66
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This well-preserved volume has only minimal wear and rubbing to binding with a spine slightly faded. Pages 251-252 have been inexpertly cut but are only damaged along the edges. Hinge is tight and pages are clean.
Author, London, spent two months living and working among the poor in London, England's East End in order to understand and document the lives and… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$127.66
The People of the Abyss
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket
- Published
- 2006
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781598189735
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$25.53
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Aegypan Press, 2006. Paperback. Very Good/No Jacket. Trade paperback with black illustrated covers. Tiny bit of corner wear. Owners name blacked out on ffep. 9x6 with 201 pp. Item Price
NZ$25.53
The PEOPLE of the ABYSS
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - VeryGood unmarked, light wear to wraps.
- Edition
- 2nd edition (1000 copies).
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Trade Paperback in illus wraps.
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Nevada City, California, USA
- Item Price
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NZ$17.02
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Oakland CA: Star Rover House, 1982. 2nd edition (1000 copies).. Trade Paperback in illus wraps.. VeryGood unmarked, light wear to wraps.. Illustrated with many photos, the author describes poverty in England in 1902. Solid clean tight copy, scarce.
5-1/2 x 8, 319 pp, b/w photos. Item Price
NZ$17.02
The People of the Abyss (Pluto Classics)
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1998
- Binding
- Soft cover
- ISBN
- 9780745314150
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Stroud, Gloucestershire, GBR
- Item Price
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NZ$15.97
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London: Pluto Press, 1998. Soft cover. Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Type: Book Item Price
NZ$15.97
The People of the Abyss.
by LONDON, Jack.
- Condition
- Used - There are two leaves that have old repairs to the fore-edge, extending about 1/2" into the marginal area. Spine very sligh
- Edition
- First Canadian edition (from the US sheets).
- Published
- 1903.
- Binding
- Publisher's gilt-lettered blue cloth.
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rochester, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$425.55
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Toronto:: George N. Morang & Company,, 1903.. First Canadian edition (from the US sheets).. publisher's gilt-lettered blue cloth.. There are two leaves that have old repairs to the fore-edge, extending about 1/2" into the marginal area. Spine very slightly darker than the cloth sides; very light use; clean, tight and sound. . 8vo,. With many illustrations from… Read more about this item Item Price
NZ$425.55