Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet: An Autobiography

"Alton Locke, Tailor and Poet: An Autobiography" by Charles Kingsley is a story, possibly based at least in part on the author's own life, that follows Alton Locke, a working-class tailor with dreams of becoming a poet, as he makes his way through the tough world of British society in probably the 1800s. The book begins by showing Alton's early life and how he grew up. Kingsley uses Alton's story to show how unfairly the working class was treated, especially those in the tailoring business. Alton deals with his own personal problems as he tries to balance his desire to be a poet with the hard facts of his place in society. The book touches on ideas such as wanting to be an artist, fighting against class differences, and the need for social change, all of which shape Alton's quest to find his purpose and be heard in a world that is changing.