in Places & People

Jack London’s Spectacular Photos Depict the Gritty Reality of London’s East End Life in 1902

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American author and photographer Jack London visited his namesake city in 1902; at that time, it was the largest city in the world. He lived in the Whitechapel district sleeping in workhouses, so-called doss-houses, and even on the streets.

In his book ‘The People of the Abyss, Jack London has described that about half a million people lived in these awful and terrible conditions in London. The book was published in 1903, the same year as his novel Call of the Wild was serialized.

London was most disturbed by the number of old men, young men, all manner of men, and boys to boot, and all manner of boys, who had no other choice other than to sleep on the streets.

#1 Part of a room to let. A typical East End home where the people live, sleep, eat all in one room.

Part of a room to let. A typical East End home where the people live, sleep, eat all in one room.

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#3 An East End Slavey (a maidservant, especially a hard-worked one.)

An East End Slavey (a maidservant, especially a hard-worked one.)

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#4 Homeless Women Spitalfields Garden (church yard of Christ Church)

Homeless Women Spitalfields Garden (church yard of Christ Church)

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#6 Spitalfields at the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street.

Spitalfields at the junction of Commercial Street and Brushfield Street.

The building at the right is Spitalfields Market. To the left is a branch of the Pearce & Plenty cafe chain, with a sign for the General Gordon Temperance Hotel.

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#8 Men working in casual ward of workhouse picking oakum – teasing out of fibres from old ropes and was very hard on the fingers.

Men working in casual ward of workhouse picking oakum – teasing out of fibres from old ropes and was very hard on the fingers.

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#9 Inside the courtyard of Salvation Army barracks Sunday Morning.

Inside the courtyard of Salvation Army barracks Sunday Morning.

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#12 “Gigantic dosshouse” Rowton House, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel

“Gigantic dosshouse” Rowton House, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel

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#13 Homeless men and women Spitifield Gardens (Christ Church churchyard).

Homeless men and women Spitifield Gardens (Christ Church churchyard).

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#14 “A policeman shines a flashlight onto a young man sleeping on the sidewalk against a building.

“A policeman shines a flashlight onto a young man sleeping on the sidewalk against a building.

A sign displayed in a window to the left reads: “Truth The Weekly Newspaper.”

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#15 Frying Pan Alley,(Situated close to Middlesex Street and Petticoat Lane market) Spitalfields

Frying Pan Alley,(Situated close to Middlesex Street and Petticoat Lane market) Spitalfields

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#16 A group of men stand out on the stoop of a four-story brick building, while a few women and children walk by on the sidewalk.

A group of men stand out on the stoop of a four-story brick building, while a few women and children walk by on the sidewalk.

A sign over the entrance reads: “No. 1 Victoria Home for Working Men.”

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#17 Whitechapel Infirmary -Wide view along the front of a long, four-story building with arched windows on the first floor.

Whitechapel Infirmary -Wide view along the front of a long, four-story building with arched windows on the first floor.

Two horse-drawn carriages are on the street in the distance.

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#19 Two relay system lodging, lodgers who have been on night work waiting till the beds of a doss house are vacated by men employed during the way.

Two relay system lodging, lodgers who have been on night work waiting till the beds of a doss house are vacated by men employed during the way.

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#20 Casual ward of Whitechapel Workhouse above, beds rolled up on left and right

Casual ward of Whitechapel Workhouse above, beds rolled up on left and right

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#23 Under the arches of the bridges that span the Thames

Under the arches of the bridges that span the Thames

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27 Comments

  3. It’s amazing. After moving to London from Oakland (where Jack London is from), I read people of the abyss years ago. I was unaware that photographs were accompanying the book, which was fascinating and heartbreaking. Thanks for posting them! I might take a stroll around Spitalfields this week.

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