1784 STATE of PRISONS in ENGLAND including Europe & Russia ANTIQUE illustrated

Howard, John.

The State of the Prisons in England and Wales,
With Preliminary Observations, And an Account of Some Foreign Prisons and Hospitals.


Warrington: Printed by William Eyres; And Sold by T. Cadell in London; 1784

22 copper-engraved plates (most folding).

[8], 492, [17] pages, including half-title. 


Original gilt-ruled calf over wooden boards, marbled edges ; spine chipped and covers detached,
embossed stamp on title, generally sound otherwise, clean interior.


"The publication of this book led to legislation abolishing abuses in prisons and providing for their proper cleaning." - Garrison-Morton 1598; PMM 224.

folio. Size : 9.5 by 12"

Text in English
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John Howard (1726-1790), an 18th-century philanthropist and prison reformer.

 John Howard's The State of the Prisons in England and Wales is a groundbreaking work that exposed the horrific conditions in 18th-century prisons, detailing widespread disease, overcrowding, and neglect based on his extensive personal inspections across Britain and Europe.
The book served as a crucial catalyst for penal reform, advocating for better sanitation, management, and humane treatment, and laid the foundation for future reform movements like the Howard League for Penal Reform. 
Detailed, firsthand accounts of prison life, including:
Widespread illness, hunger, and filth. 
Poor management and corrupt practices. 
Observations from prisons in Great Britain, Ireland, and continental Europe (including Russia). 
The book became a foundational text for the modern prison reform movement. 
Advocated for principles like secure and sanitary structures, systematic inspections, and a reformatory regimen.

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