Journeys through London, or, byways of modern Babylon

James Greenwood's writing career began as a children's author. However in 1866 he was persuaded by his brother Frederick to spend a night in Lambeth workhouse and write up his findings for the Pall Mall Gazette, of which Frederick was the editor. So began his career as an early investigative journalist, initially for the Gazette and later for the Daily Telegraph.

'Journeys through London' is undated but is generally attributed a publication date of around 1873. According to the preface, the book "is simply a collection of personal observation of unsentimental journeys as ever were undertaken by the most ordinary tramp. The collection is the result, not of a labour of love purely - although, of course, a liking for the subject was the prime inducement for entering on its investigation, - but of down-right, jog-trot journey-work."