Illustrations of Political Economy, Vol. VIII (in 9 Volumes)

Set against the backdrop of England's free-market economy in the early 1830s, this collection of 24 short stories tackles pressing social and political issues such as overpopulation and the struggles between workers and factory owners. While some viewed Martineau's perspectives as politically extreme, her work resonated with a wide readership and significantly influenced future socially aware writers like Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell.