Book info

• Title The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
• Author Robert Tressell
• Year 1914
• Genre Classic

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a classic representation of the impoverished and politically powerless underclass of British society in Edwardian England, ruthlessly exploited by the institutionalized corruption of their employers and the civic and religious authorities. Epic in scale, the novel charts the ruinous effects of the laissez-faire mercantilist ethics on the men, women, and children of the working classes, and through its emblematic characters, argues for a socialist politics as the only hope for a civilized and humane life for all.

Thoughts

I was on the back foot with this book from the start, as it is a very openly political tale about the benefits of socialism weighed against the disadvantages of capitalism. I’m not particularly interested in politics, and whilst I liked some of the descriptions of the economics of the two systems, I drifted off when there was talk of elections and money-grabbing corporations.

I did think the underlying story, with the circle of house painters trying to make their way in the world, made things a bit more interesting but it couldn’t really carry the whole book for me. It went on for a bit longer than I would have wanted, and stretched out the twists and turns of these character’s lives for ages.

Having said that, I can see why it was / is a popular book, and I thought it approached the difficult topics well - they’re just not subjects I’m interested in reading about.

Rating: 2 / 5