A must read for anybody interested in socialism or the life of the working class before its emergence. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. If it were possible to construct huge gasometers and to draw together and compress within them the whole of the atmosphere, it would have been done long ago, and we should have been compelled to work for them in order to get money to buy air to breathe. interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. A passionately written socialist polemic describing the hardships Edwardian housepainters had to endure. I would never have believed that thirty years later, and with the book itself now over 100 years old, we would be back in a world where workers in underpaid, irregular work can literally go hungry. Welcome back. It details the political and social conditions of the community where allegedly there is a ‘safety net’ where monies can be allotted but because of the prejudices and moral judgement of the great and the good, often those, deserving some help rarely get it in spite of the jumble sales, soup kitchens, the ‘Assistance Board', et al. I originally got this book from my local library and set about reading it daily on my commute to work. This book makes me feel like a bad leftie. Have ever hear of the joke about watching paint dry. The book also highlights the idiocy of the Socialists in trying to reason with people by rational argument that the change would benefit them when they are too set in their ways. You know the saying: There's no time like the present...unless you're looking for a distraction from the current moment. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “No one had any right to condemn him for this, because all who live under the present system practise selfishness, more or less. The tale is set in Mugborough, about 200 miles from London. We must be selfish or we shall be hungry and ragged and finally die in the gutter. What an amzing book! Even as you think at present that it's right for so few people to own the Earth, the Minerals and the Water, which are all just as necessary as is the air. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “Much better left alone,’ chimed in old Jack Linden sagely, ‘argyfying about politics generally ends up with a bloody row an’ does no good to nobody.” ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “I don't believe in the Society,' observed Crass. Colourful, funny and thought-provoking. A really brilliant read – compelling, moving and thought-provoking, with wonderful characterisation. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “Every man who is not helping to bring about a better state of affairs for the future is helping to perpetuate the present misery, and is therefore the enemy of his own children. The working classes did not seek to better their lot condemning their children to the same fate even when the Socialists demonstrate the folly of cont. What a book. “Poverty is not caused by men and women getting married; it's not caused by machinery; it's not caused by "over-production"; it's not caused by drink or laziness; and it's not caused by "over-population". They have monopolized everything that it is possible to monopolize; they have got the whole earth, the minerals in the earth and the streams that water the earth. There are no shades of grey in this novel, and the author believes that if you have a point to make, dont make it once when you can do it twenty times. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. He chose the pen name Tressell in reference to the trestle table, an important part of his kit as a painter and decorator. ― Philip Pullman, quote from The Golden Compass. There is no such thing as being neutral: we must either help or hinder.”. This is a novel exposing greed, corruption and the pusillanimous nature of the class system which is as relevant today as it was on the day it was published. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “It's not possible for anyone to become rich without cheating other people.” It's caused by Private Monopoly. It's not often you get to the end of a 620 page novel and then go back to the beginning and read all the notes, the preface, the footnotes and still enjoy it. This exploration of the harsh realities of economic survival for the working-classes remains as relevant today as when the novel was first written. that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but As the world communicates more and Now this book itself has become something of a sacred text to a lot of people and - finally getting around to reading it at 44 years young - I can see why. No one can justly be blamed for acting selfishly--it is a matter of self-preservation--we must either injure or be injured. Robert Tressell's pre-First World War account of the working lives of a group of housepainters and decorators has become a classic of working-class literature. Concentrating on working conditions in a painting and decorating outfit, the book celebrates the labour theory of value and condemns the exploiting class. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, ― Barbara Kingsolver, quote from The Poisonwood Bible, ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, quote from Don Quixote, ― Philip Pullman, quote from The Golden Compass. typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. [ so only one escape then - one involving a wooden box just to be clear, [so you are really in for a bargain if you've borrowed this from your library instead. And even while he is doing this the air monopolist will be preaching sermons on the Brotherhood of Man; he will be dispensing advice on "Christian Duty" in the Sunday magazines; he will give utterance to numerous more or less moral maxims for the guidance of the young. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is by far one of my favourite books. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “He had never expected or wished to be allowed to enjoy such things; he had always been of opinion that they were never intended for the likes of him. This novel is set at the start of the 20th century and the birth of Britain’s Labour party as they attempt to bring about a Socialist utopia for the working classes. We feel I’ve had a long and somewhat strange relationship with this book. ― Hermann Hesse, quote from Siddhartha, “Devotion to the truth is the hallmark of morality; there is no greater, nobler, more heroic form of devotion than the act of a man who assumes the responsibility of thinking.” Maybe it is too English and mild mannered, I mean there are only three deaths and only one couple forced into the workhouse - what kind of indictment of capitalism is this! ALL of it was great. Born place: in Dublin, Ireland A passionately written socialist polemic describing the hardships Edwardian housepainters had to endure. 1993 These are precious and well fought for but recent government is trying to undermine and backtrack on these achievements. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It tells an everyday story of those who work in the building trade particularly painter and decorators. ‘The Great Money Trick’ is brilliantly illustrated by Frank Owen – one of the Socialist heroes of the book – where the factory owners reap the benefits of the worker’s labour, pay them a wage which they must use to purchase the very necessities that they created to survive and so remain in poverty. Everyone should read this book. We also accept Told before the NHS and before welfare, reading it now is a reminder of what current governments are trying to take us back to. We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and In that case, we can't... To see what your friends thought of this book, Written and set in Edwardian England, ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ follows the working lives of a group of painters and decorators. more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become The only reason they have not monopolized the daylight and the air is that it is not possible to do it. Even as you think at present that it's right for so few people to own the Earth, the Minerals and the Water, which are all just as necessary as is the air. The illegitimate son of Mary Ann Noonan and Samuel Croker (a retired magistrate), he was born in Dublin in 1870 and settled in England in 1901 after a short spell living and working in South Africa. ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, quote from Don Quixote, “When you live for many hundreds of years, you know that every opportunity will come again.” It tells an everyday story of those who work in the building trade particularly painter and decorators. What however endures in this book beyond any doubt and provides it with a compelling voice even today is. And even while he is doing this the air monopolist will be preaching sermons on the Brotherhood of Man; he will be dispensing advice on "Christian Duty" in the Sunday magazines; he will give utterance to numerous more or less moral maxims for the guidance of the young. Refresh and try again. ― Robert Tressell, quote from The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, “The Golden Light that will be diffused throughout all the happy world from the rays of the risen sun of Socialism.” The book tries to expose greed and exploitative working conditions and it's quite disheartening to think that 100 years on the battle remains, quite possibly even more so. What a great book. Having read various reviews and heard often about this book, I expected to like it much more than I did. (6.1K votes), “Poverty is not caused by men and women getting married; it's not caused by machinery; it's not caused by "over-production"; it's not caused by drink or laziness; and it's not caused by "over-population". Outlining the resistance to change by the Liberal and Tory governing classes as well as the very workers that would benefit the most from the changes highlights the idiocy of the day. Frank Owen, is a socialist who believes that the capitalist system is the real source of the poverty he sees all around him. It was written in 1906 and details a year in the life of the works, their families, and the men/firms who employ them. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through our Blog. philosophy by which we live. I read the complete, unedited text, after being given it as a rather thoughtful Christmas present. I loved it. The book has been read, but looks new. Written just before WWI, it has become a classic of the socialist movement, and as such is perhaps not so well-known as it should be.