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The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Robert Tressell
Book Overview:
Clearly frustrated at the refusal of his contemporaries to recognize the iniquity of society, Tressell’s cast of hypocritical Christians, exploitative capitalists and corrupt councilors provide a backdrop for his main target — the workers who think that a better life is “not for the likes of them”. Hence the title of the book; Tressell paints the workers as “philanthropists” who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters.
The hero of the book, Frank Owen, is a socialist who believes that the capitalist system is the real source of the poverty he sees all around him. In vain he tries to convince his fellow workers of his world view, but finds that their education has trained them to distrust their own thoughts and to rely on those of their “betters”. Much of the book consists of conversations between Owen and the others, or more often of lectures by Owen in the face of their jeering; this was presumably based on Tressell’s own experiences.
Clearly frustrated at the refusal of his contemporaries to recognize the iniquity of society, Tressell’s cast of hypocritical Christians, exploitative capitalists and corrupt councilors provide a backdrop for his main target — the workers who think that a better life is “not for the likes of them”. Hence the title of the book; Tressell paints the workers as “philanthropists” who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters.
The hero of the book, Frank Owen, is a socialist who believes that the capitalist system is the real source of the poverty he sees all around him. In vain he tries to convince his fellow workers of his world view, but finds that their education has trained them to distrust their own thoughts and to rely on those of their “betters”. Much of the book consists of conversations between Owen and the others, or more often of lectures by Owen in the face of their jeering; this was presumably based on Tressell’s own experiences.
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Just before half past eight Owen arrived and was immediately assailed with questions as to what had transpired at the office. Crass listened with ill-concealed chagrin to Owen's account, but most of the others were genuinely pleased.
'But what a way to speak to anybody!' observed Harlow, referring to Hunter's manner on the previous Monday night.
'You know, I reckon if ole Misery 'ad four legs, 'e'd make a very good pig,' said Philpot, solemnly, 'and you can't expect nothin' from a pig but a grunt.'
During the morning, as Easton and Owen were working together in the drawing-room, the former remarked:
'Did I tell you I had a room I wanted to let, Frank?'
'Yes, I think you did.'
'Well, I've let it to Slyme. I think he seems a very decent sort of chap, don't you?' . . . Read More
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Community Reviews
This book makes me feel like a bad leftie. I wanted to like it so much more than I did, and while parts of it are very powerful, the book is overlong, and treads the same ground so often that I had to force myself to finish it.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in G
A really brilliant read – compelling, moving and thought-provoking, with wonderful characterisation. I loved it.
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If you've ever reflected on the woes of the world, this novel might offer some relief.
Relief that is, from any illusion that things will probably be ok; that we have learnt from mistakes of the past, and that we are at the dawn of some enlightened benevolent age.
Written and set in the Edwardian era
Read as part of The Infinite Variety Reading Challenge, based on the BBC's Big Read Poll of 2003.
Just wonderful. At times sickening, but also heartening and exactly what one needs in this era, for good and bad. Moreso brilliant for what it stands for rather than how it is written or the plot, but ev