Glimpses into the Abyss

"Glimpses into the Abyss" by Mary Higgs is a deep exploration into the early 20th-century English underbelly. Through six years of immersive research in shelters and lodgings, the author shines a light on the difficult lives of vagrants and the deep-rooted problems of poverty. The book begins with the writer's introduction, where she discusses her methods and intentions for studying vagrancy. Higgs shares her direct experiences interacting with people with no money or home, offering them support while studying their lives. The author explains how her studies grew from watching individuals to examining the bigger picture of poverty across the country. She argues that to understand these problems, one needs scientific study of their reasons and a push for changes in society. This setup prepares the reader for a journey into the specifics of vagrancy and ideas for how to improve society.