From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An Autobiography

"From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An Autobiography" by George Edwards is a memoir about the author's life, beginning with his impoverished upbringing as a farm worker in Norfolk to becoming a Member of Parliament championing the rights of agricultural laborers. The autobiography reveals the tough social and economic realities experienced by English farm workers in the 1800s, highlighting their tenacity, community spirit, and quest for fairness. The opening describes his family’s difficult circumstances, especially his father’s struggles following his military service, painting a stark picture of the poverty and unfairness impacting working-class families during the 1840s. Edwards vividly recounts a tough childhood characterized by poverty, long hours, and the constant impulse to improve working conditions for farmhands. He develops a deep sense of purpose through these early hardships which drives him to dedicate his life to social reform and fighting for the working class.