Secret Commissions

"This is a book full of amazing stuff-Victorian in its facts, but contemporary in its themes. Great reporters doing great stories." - Nick Davies, investigative reporter, The Guardian

"A superbly annotated anthology that establishes without doubt the origins of modern investigative journalism in the mid- to late-nineteenth-century press. Stephen Donovan and Matthew Rubery's selection of articles from the late 1840s to the turn of the century makes compelling reading, demonstrating the innovative techniques of the journalists and the shocking nature of their exposes." - Joanne Shattock, Emeritus Professor of Victorian Literature, University of Leicester

"As this collection of specimens of investigative journalism convincingly illustrates, 'More is required of the Investigative reporter than sightseeing'! Donovan and Rubery's thoughtful and provocative introduction is full of fresh perspectives and links to provide an historical and critical context for what follows: a rich cornucopia of examples from across the period and press-dailies, popular weeklies, and monthly reviews, in which a developing definition of fact-based and witness-based journalism may be gleaned." - Laurel Brake, Professor Emerita of Literature and Print Culture, Birkbeck, University of London