George G. Foster (1815–1856)

This curiosity is a collection of newspaper-length columns written by a reporter on New York's city beat in the middle of the nineteenth century. It concentrates largely on vice, crime, and extremes of poverty and wealth in a tut-tuttingly titillating brew which makes for an extraordinary read which comes as close as possible for the printed word to send one time-travelling. It would be a nice source for formal historical scholarship if one were confident of its credibility. This edition is fleshed out by a few excerpts from the author's other books which are a trifle more average and a long introduction which is mildly interesting.… (meer)