Vagabunden

The scholarly book "Vagabonds" by Beate Althammer offers an in-depth analysis of the social phenomena of poverty and mobility in Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It illuminates the complex relationships between begging, vagrancy, and the evolving social policy. Through a nuanced examination of both individual experiences and societal debates, it becomes clear that the beggars and wanderers perceived as a "marginal group" played a central role in the history of social reforms. The book is not only a historical reconstruction but also a critical engagement with the norms of settled society and the repressions faced by these social groups. With a geographical focus on the Prussian Rhine Province, the topic is presented vividly and understandably.