The Industrious Child Worker

Overview

Studies of child labour have examined the experiences of child workers in agriculture, mining, and textile mills, yet surprisingly little research has focused on child labour in manufacturing towns. This book investigates the extent and nature of child labour in Birmingham and the West Midlands, from the mid-eighteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. It considers the economic contributions of child workers under the age of 14 and the impact of early work on their health and education.

Reviews

“Mary Nejedly, in her focus on the Birmingham region, has made a major contribution to the study of child labour in this country during the years of the Industrial Revolution and the late nineteenth century."—Neil Clarke, Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society

“Nejedly understands her study as a historically informed contribution to ending child labour in our times… by underlining the emotional consequences not so much of labour, but of neglect, forced migration, and alienation.”—Claudia Jarzebowski, Labour History Review

“Deftly handled by Mary Nejedly… this meticulously researched book enriches the history of the West Midlands and especially Birmingham.”—FE Terry-Chandler, Local Population Studies

 

Author Biography

Mary Nejedly is a research associate at the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham and also has a PhD from the University of Birmingham.