People of the Abyss — at the Political Economy Book Club

When:
August 19, 2015 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
2015-08-19T18:00:00-05:00
2015-08-19T20:00:00-05:00
Where:
Henry George School
30 East Adams Street #1207
Chicago, IL 60603
USA
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Bob Matter
312 450 2906
image from the 1903 edition, via Wikimedia
image from the 1903 edition, via Wikimedia

The People of the Abyss (1903) is a book by Jack London (1876-1916) about life in the East End of London in 1902. He wrote this first-hand account by living in the East End for several months, sometimes staying in workhouses or sleeping on the streets. The conditions he experienced and wrote about were the same as those endured by an estimated 500,000 of the contemporary London poor.  Decades later, this book inspired George Orwell to write Down and Out in Paris and London.

A bit late to be a contemporary of Henry George, Jack London lived mainly in northern California  and was a passionate advocate of workers’ rights. Both London and George were members of Bohemian Grove.

(source: Wikipedia)

The People of the Abyss is available free on line as text from Gutenberg, and as an audiobook from LibriVox, as well as in hardcopy from various libraries and book dealers.

Political Economy Book Club is open to everyone wishing to participate in the discussion, without charge altho donations are appreciated to help pay for rent and snacks. Convenor Bob Matter appreciates an RSVP from those planning to attend.