First English edition of Engels' Condition of the Working Class in England

Background. Originally written in German, Engels' book was a study of the industrial working class in Victorian England, compiled from his observations in Salford and Manchester. It was considered a classic account of the universal condition of the industrial working class. The text was translated into English in 1885 by Florence Kelley, an American social reformer, under her married name.

Publication Details. The English translation was published in 1887 in New York City. It was authorized by Engels, who provided a newly written preface for the edition. The publication occurred under Kelley's married name, reflecting her status at the time. This edition made the work accessible to an English-speaking audience, distinct from the original German text.

Florence Kelley. Florence Kelley was an American social and political reformer. Her work against sweatshops and for minimum wage laws is widely recognized. She translated Engels' work in 1885, which was published in 1887.