<p>R. M. Ballantyne's 'The Garret and the Garden; Or, Low Life High Up' offers readers a compelling exploration of socio-economic disparities as encountered by its vividly drawn characters. With a flair for adventure and an eye for detail, Ballantyne navigates the contrasts between the squalor of a garret and the tranquility of a garden, an allegory for the various strata of society. His work is a textured tableau of Victorian life, brimming with...