Her Benny

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Cuffs and kicks they reckon upon every day of their lives; and in this they are rarely disappointed, and a lad who by dodging or cunning can escape this daily discipline is looked upon by the others as ” ‘mazin’ cute.

I'm really disappointed too as the only reason I read it is because my grandfather told me it was the one book he ever read that made him cry his eyes out. They flee an abusive father and take to the streets of Liverpool to provide the meager necessities of life. Benny is given several chances to improve himself and even when he and Nell are down on their luck he always steers away from stealing and any thing dishonest. Didactic in intent, yet sympathetic in tone, his 'rags to riches' tale was well calculated to appeal to a contemporary audience.Helped by their friend the night-watchman Joe Wrag, and 'Granny' Betty Barker, manage to retain their independence and learn to lead Christian lives. Lawrence, and marriage with Eva, who gave him the shilling in his greatest hour of need, which he kept and never dared spend. In 1993 the novel was also adapted into a successful stage musical by Anne Dalton, [4] with a 25th anniversary revival in 2018.

A friend of ours, some years ago, came into considerable property in this neighbourhood, and employed a young man who was new to the work to collect the rents for him. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. The combination of twee-ness and religious overtones make this a little indigestible in places but it is one of the most famous books about Victorian Liverpool and did successfully highlight the plight of children in the city. Nelly plies her trade like the little match girl selling fusees on around Castle Street and St George's Church. Abandoning Liverpool, he nearly dies of starvation and heat-stroke, but is rescued and nursed back to health by a kindly farming family.And a second time the affrighted agent fled, and gave up the situation at once, vowing he would never enter any one of those streets again while he lived. The twists and turns in life of ‘Her Benny’ (her being Nelly, his sister) illustrate the poverty and destitution of the time, but a godly approach to life pays dividends in the end. Despite the obvious drawbacks - melodramatic story line, a surfeit of religious instruction, the suffering of the (admittedly likeable) hero turned up to the nth degree, tear-jerking scenes always only a page away - this Victorian novel may present to the sophisticated reader of the 21st century, I found it to be sincere and affecting. Eventually Nell shuffles off the mortal coil and probably gets to heaven or becomes a little angel and Benny decides the best thing he can do is head off down the road towards Manchester and then lie down and wait for death to take him Cheerfully Benny is rescued by a friendly farmer and is cured of his heavy heart by a healthy dose of farm activities and the outdoor lifestyle and goes on to make his way in the world with an almost improbable bought of self improvements. A story that is heart wrenching in parts and full of emotion throughout, I defy you not to tear up when reading this.

A varied cast ranges from night watchman Joe, whose Calvinistic leanings at first prevent him, almost literally, from seeing the light, to well-intentioned gentry and kindly farmers. If my story] shall awaken any sympathy for the poor little waifs of our streets, I shall have my reward.Although the author is obviously familiar with the conditions suffered by the urban poor, his characters lack psychological realism and illustrate doctrine rather than convince as real people. The language was a little hard to follow at times but was to be expected given the era it was written in.

Her Benny was his second novel written in 1879 at the age of twenty nine after he has spent three years working with the poor and destitute on the streets of Liverpool. Takes a little while to get used to the old phrases bit if I can do it at 10 then anyone can do it and enjoy this tale of old Liverpool.The police rarely, if ever, venture into this neighbourhood alone, or if one should be so foolish enough to do so, he has generally to pay dearly for his indiscretion.