Hard and Unreal Advice - by K Martin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The first detailed and systematic study of the social science of poverty as practiced by the Victorian experts who had so much influence on relief policy in this area, and who were among the founders of British social science. The book examines what they knew, or what they thought they knew, about the poor.

Review Quotes

'...a bold and timely work of cultural history...this tightly-structured study makes for stimulating and suggestive reading...in terms of a combative and thought-provoking contribution to current welfare debate, I suggest that this book merits a much wider audience.' - Victoria Le Fevre, Reviews in History

About the Author

KATHLEEN CALLANAN MARTIN is Professor in the College of General Studies at Boston University, USA. Drawing on her background in both sociology and history, she examines in her research the interplay of culture, theory and methodology in social science. She received her MA in Sociology from Ohio State University and her PhD in Comparative History from Brandeis University.