Round about a Pound a Week

"Round about a Pound a Week" by Mrs. Pember Reeves is a social study from the early 1900s that explores the difficult lives of working-class families in London's Lambeth area, and their attempts to live on about one pound each week. Showing what life was like for these families, the author exposes issues of poverty, housing, and social support in the broader world. The story begins by describing the busy streets of Lambeth and the people who call it home, paying close attention to a particular tram stop where many working-class families gather, showcasing their daily lives and surroundings. The book draws attention to the kinds of work these people do and their efforts to live respectable lives despite their money struggles. A group called the Fabian Women's Group led the study, seeking to learn the effects of poverty on mothers and children. The group's intent was setting out a detailed study of their lives, including their homes, how they managed their money, and the struggles they faced in raising their families with very little money.