1890 William Booth, In Darkest England and the Way Out, allegorical map

An allegorical map included in In Darkest England, illustrating Booth's proposed scheme for salvation of the poor, including three forms of colony: city, farm, and across the sea.

43 x 28 cms.

With folds as issued. In a good condition.

In Darkest England and the Way Out is an 1890 book written by William Booth in which Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, proposed a number of social reforms to improve the living conditions of the poor in Victorian England. Among other measures, Booth envisioned the creation of "City Colonies", "Farm Colonies" and "Over-Sea Colonies", each "self-helping and self-sustaining communities" which would provide food, work, and shelter for the needy.

In Darkest England set the foundation for the Salvation Army's modern social welfare approach. It compared what was considered "civilised" England with "Darkest Africa" – a land then considered poor and backward. What Booth suggested was that much of London and greater England after the Industrial Revolution was not better off in the quality of life than those in the underdeveloped world.