Children of the Tenements: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Children of the Tenements: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Children of the Tenements is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August) (1849–1914).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Children of the Tenements" by Jacob A. Riis is a collection of stories that sheds light on the lives of impoverished children in the tenement districts of New York, written in the late 19th century. The narrative highlights the struggles, hopes, and resilience of these children and their families amidst the harsh realities of urban poverty. Through a series of poignant vignettes, Riis aims to portray the pressing social issues of his time, emphasizing the humanity and dignity of those living in the margins of society. The opening portion of the text introduces us to Adam Grunschlag, a Jewish pedler facing overwhelming difficulties as he navigates life in a cramped and unhealthy basement with his wife and young son, Abe. As his wife becomes gravely ill, he wrestles with the harsh realities of poverty, ultimately deciding to take desperate measures for the well-being of his family, including trying to return an infant, referred to as the “rent baby,” to its rightful parents. This part of the narrative establishes a deep sense of empathy and urgency, foreshadowing the struggles and sacrifices made by these characters in their quest for a better life. The emotional challenges they face are emblematic of the broader plight of many families in similar circumstances, setting the tone for the stories that follow.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Children of the Tenements
- Author credits: Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August) (1849–1914)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
- Short stories, American
- Tenement houses -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Short Stories
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
