The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell
"The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" by Robert Tressell is a novel written during the late 19th century that presents a vivid depiction of working-class life, particularly focusing on those in the building trades in a small English town. The story aims to explore the relationships between the workers and their employers, their social and economic struggles, and their thoughts about poverty and socialism, with a central character, Frank Owen, articulated as a voice
for the downtrodden and an advocate for change. The opening of the novel introduces a construction site where a group of workers is engaged in renovations on an old house, referred to as "The Cave." As details about their work, living conditions, and personal interactions unfold during their break, we see the dynamics of camaraderie, tension, and class struggle among them. Through various dialogues, we begin to sense Owen's differing views on politics and social justice as he passionately challenges his fellow workers’ acceptance of their plight, proposing instead that they must confront the system that keeps them in poverty. This setting and the characters established here provide a foundation for discussing broader philosophical debates about economics and social structure that permeate the narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Tressell, Robert, 1870-1911 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists |
| Note | Reading ease score: 73.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ragged-Trousered_Philanthropists |
| Credits | Iain Tatch |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Working class -- Fiction |
| Subject | England -- Fiction |
| Subject | Political fiction |
| Subject | Social classes -- Fiction |
| Subject | Capitalism -- Fiction |
| Subject | Socialists -- Fiction |
| Subject | Working class families -- Fiction |
| Subject | Labor movement -- Fiction |
| Subject | Social conflict -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 3608 |
| Release Date | Jan 1, 2003 |
| Most Recently Updated | May 5, 2023 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 557 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
