Subject
Urban poor -- Fiction Books
Best books
Knut Hamsun
Hunger
"Hunger" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows an unnamed, starving young writer wandering the streets as his mental and physical state deteriorates. While trying to maintain respectability, he descends into delusional existence, overwhelmed by poverty and pride. The novel explores the irrational depths of the human mind through detailed psychological analysis, depicting a self-destructive protagonist who refuses to surrender his dignity even as hunger consumes him.
Knut Hamsun
Sult
"Sult" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows an unnamed starving young man as he wanders the city streets, his mental and physical state deteriorating. Despite his intellectual pretensions and self-imposed code of honor, he descends into delusionary existence, scrounging for food while struggling to maintain respectability. The novel explores the irrationality of the human mind through detailed psychological observation, marking a pioneering work of modern literature.
Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
"Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" by Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice is a novel published in 1901. Set in a turn-of-the-century urban slum, it follows the optimistic widow Mrs. Wiggs and her five children as they navigate poverty with humor and resilience. Inspired by Rice's philanthropic work in Louisville, Kentucky, the story captures one family's determined spirit while two wealthy individuals seek to help the community. This beloved novel sold over 650,000 copies and inspired numerous stage and film adaptations.
Harold Frederic
The Lawton Girl
"The Lawton Girl" by Harold Frederic is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Jessica Lawton, a young woman returning to her hometown of Thessaly after a period of self-imposed exile, bringing with her the burdens of a troubled past. As Jessica navigates her way back into a community rife with judgment and prejudice, she finds herself entangled with significant figures like the wealthy Mr. Boyce and her former teacher, Reuben Tracy. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Jessica Lawton's tumultuous return to Thessaly, a place that once felt grand but now seems small and alienating. Her father, Ben Lawton, struggles with his responsibilities and the weight of their family's past, while Jessica wrestles with her emotions upon encountering the townspeople and reconciling her former life with her present. As she seeks to redefine herself in a society that remembers her as the "prodigal daughter," the opening chapters set the tone for a complex examination of family, societal expectations, and personal redemption. The interactions of the characters hint at themes of love, societal judgment, and the struggle to reinvent oneself against the backdrop of a community steeped in gossip and scrutiny.
Knut Hamsun
Éhség : $b regény
"Éhség: regény" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows a starving young man whose grip on reality deteriorates as he wanders the city streets. Unable to pursue a conventional career and driven by self-destructive pride, he experiences mental and physical decay while clinging to respectability. Through a series of encounters, the novel explores the irrationality of the human mind, blending psychological depth with dark humor as the protagonist descends into a delusionary existence.
Knut Hamsun
Hunger
"Hunger" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows an unnamed, starving young writer wandering the city streets as his mental and physical state deteriorates. While struggling to maintain respectability, he experiences delusions, self-destructive behavior, and the slow collapse of his grip on reality. Through detailed psychological analysis, the novel explores the irrational workings of the human mind under extreme deprivation, creating what has been called a pioneering work of modern, psychology-driven literature.
George Manville Fenn
A Little World
"A Little World" by George Manville Fenn is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the contrasting lives of two brothers, Richard and Jared Pellet, in London, exploring themes of family, class disparity, and the pursuit of happiness. Richard is wealthy and self-assured, while Jared struggles with poverty yet finds joy in his family and music. The opening portion introduces us to the Pellet brothers, focusing on Richard, who perceives his brother as a fool for his choices, particularly his modest life as a musical instrument tuner. The narrative delves into Richard's disdain for Jared, who marries for love rather than money and has a large family, contrasting with Richard's material success. We also meet Patty, Jared's daughter, noted for her beauty and innocence. As we proceed, we witness Jared's aspiration to become the organist at a local church, setting the stage for exploration of his character and familial dynamics amidst societal pressures. This beginning establishes a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama and relationships that define their lives.
Knut Hamsun
Hunger
"Hunger" by Knut Hamsun is a novel written in the late 19th century. It is a stark, psychologically intimate portrait of a destitute young writer wandering Christiania, tracing his pride, imagination, and desperation as hunger frays his mind. The focus is less on plot than on a vivid inner life—restless thoughts, sudden exaltations, and humiliations—rendered in intense, impressionistic prose. The opening of the novel follows an unnamed aspiring writer as he wakes in a bare attic, broke and hungry, and drifts through Christiania trying to write, find work, and keep his dignity. He pawns his waistcoat to give a coin to a lame stranger, buys a meager meal, and oscillates between grand ideas (new essays and “philosophical” treatises) and erratic impulses (taunting a woman he dubs Ylajali, spinning lies for a credulous old man). He submits a literary sketch to a newspaper and clings to hope while dodging his landlady, then abandons his room and spends a cold, miserable night in the woods. Hunger sharpens and distorts his perceptions; small slights enrage him, and brief bursts of inspiration give way to emptiness. By the end of this opening, rebuffed for a bookkeeping job over a foolish date error, he is weakened and ashamed, yet still forcing a polite front as he tries to seize any chance—such as an advertised job helping an invalid—that might keep him going.
Knut Hamsun
Nälkä
"Nälkä" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows an unnamed starving young man wandering the streets as his mental and physical state deteriorates. While trying to maintain respectability, he descends into a delusionary existence, overwhelmed by hunger and his own self-destructive choices. This psychology-driven work explores the irrational workings of the human mind through a series of encounters, depicting the darker side of modern urban life with both intensity and dark humor.
Knut Hamsun
Hunger: Book One
"Hunger: Book One" by Knut Hamsun is a novel published in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania, it follows a starving young man whose grip on reality deteriorates as he wanders the city streets. The unnamed protagonist clings to respectability while his body and mind decay from hunger. Through a series of encounters, the novel explores the irrational workings of the human psyche, blending psychological depth with dark humor as the vagrant intellectually refuses conventional work yet slowly descends into delusionary desperation.
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