The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
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3.8 • 16 Ratings
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
There is no other novel quite like
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. George Orwell called it "a wonderful book"; its readers have become a living part of its remarkable history.
Tressell's novel is about survival on the underside of the Edwardian Twilight, about exploitative employment when the only safety nets are charity, workhouse, and grave. Following the fortunes of a group of painters and decorators and their families, and the attempts to rouse their political will by the Socialist visionary Frank Owen, the audiobook is both a highly entertaining story and a passionate appeal for a fairer way of life. It asks questions that are still being asked today: why do yourwages bear no relation to the value of your work? Why do fat cats get richer when you don't? Tressell's answers are "The Great Money Trick" and the "philanthropy" of an unenlightened workforce, who give away their rights and aspirations to a decent life so freely.
Intellectually enlightening, deeply moving, and gloriously funny (complete with exploding clergyman), The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a book that changes lives.
Customer Reviews
An eye opening book
This recording of this book makes it somehow easier to digest and understand. Everyone should listen to or read it. I'm not a political person but this teaches you so much about how the working class are taken advantage of by "the great money trick"
Must Read
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist is one of the seminar books of the past 100 years, too socialists and others alike. It's bitter expose of the working class' political capabilities of the time pulls no punches and many see it taking an almost inhumane view of the workers. What the book has been however is a becon of inspiration for socialists around the world and the number of copies sold is unknown. The Spectators sparse quote on it doesnt do the book justice, it is as politically devisive in manys ways as The Communist Manifesto without trying to kid anyone about the crippling difficulty in convinsing thoes of the perils of capitalism. A must read for anyone and any age this book will continue long after even this medium of literature has expired.