Robert Shoemaker

About the Author

Robert Shoemaker is a distinguished historian specializing in the social and criminal history of early modern England. With a focus on urban life and the interplay of poverty, crime, and societal transformation, his research illuminates the gritty realities of London's underbelly during a pivotal era. Shoemaker's meticulous scholarship draws on extensive archival sources to reveal how the city's inhabitants navigated hardship and justice in the lead-up to the Industrial Revolution. A professor emeritus at the University of Sheffield, he has influenced generations of scholars through his insightful analyses and commitment to accessible historical narrative. His seminal work, London Lives: Poverty, Crime and the Making of a Modern City, 1690–1800, stands as a cornerstone in understanding the foundations of modern urban society.