Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Ragged trousered philantropists

Options
  • 17-07-2010 9:58pm
    #1
    Nolanger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,556 ✭✭✭


    Has anyone else read this? Is this book the greatest by an Irish writer (Tressell) that receives little acclaim here? It influenced everyone from Orwell to the Kitchen sink writers. Seems strange that no-one mentions it much in this country. Are Irish critics and academics too middle-class to rate it :o


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    Moonstomper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭Moonstomper


    It's a great favourite of mine. Even though the more overtly political passages can seem a little preachy at times it's a great read and a hugely influential book within the labour movement. I worked for quite a while on building sites in London and it was amazing how close to reality the book still was. Not perhaps the actual working conditions, but the people and attitudes were still very similar to those described by Tressell. Many of the old tradesmen knew the book well.

    I first came across the book in "Borstal Boy". Behan was obviously a big fan. BBC Radio 4 did a dramatisation a few years back, with John Prescott in one of the roles oddly enough.


  • Options
    #3
    tHE vAGGABOND
    Registered Users Posts: 6,687 ✭✭✭tHE vAGGABOND


    I really think it should be on the leaving cert tbh - its so good in many ways

    Its something people should be made read, to see how bad things really were back in the day, before people moan how bad things are now :)


  • Options
    #4
    Malari
    Registered Users Posts: 18,150 ✭✭✭✭Malari


    tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

    Its something people should be made read, to see how bad things really were back in the day, before people moan how bad things are now :)

    Well, enforced reading lists, I'm not sure :p but I agree it's a really fascinating read of how things were and how social welfare was needed so badly.

    I've recommmended it in the political fiction thread that came up recently.


  • Options
    #5
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,488 ✭✭✭Denerick


    I'll look this up this evening. Sounds interesting.


  • Options
    #6
    Red About Town
    Closed Accounts Posts: 257 ✭✭Red About Town


    I have been meaning to read this book for a number of years and I think it will be bought with one of the book vouchers I got for Christmas.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    Whippersnapper
    Registered Users Posts: 598 ✭✭✭Whippersnapper


    Got three quarters of the way through and grew tired of it. I must get back to it and finish it.


  • Options
    #8
    Red About Town
    Closed Accounts Posts: 257 ✭✭Red About Town


    Whippersnapper wrote: »
    Got three quarters of the way through and grew tired of it. I must get back to it and finish it.

    I assume you didn't find it that good?


  • Options
    #9
    Blush_01
    Registered Users Posts: 5,016 ✭✭✭Blush_01


    Picked it up for €3 in HMV last week if anyone is interested in a bargain copy.

    It's towards the bottom of the pile though, as there's a room full of books that got there first.


  • Options
    #10
    Dizraeligears
    Registered Users Posts: 241 ✭✭Dizraeligears


    Worked for many years as a specialist decorator,and remember reading this at the time.The descriptions of the preparation of paint etc.were fascinating.
    There is a memorial to Robert Tressel on Wexford St. across the street from Gunns camera shop or thereabouts-dunno if its still there after all these years...


  • Options
    #11
    rebeve
    Registered Users Posts: 856 ✭✭✭rebeve


    Its a must read .


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    Deregos
    Closed Accounts Posts: 485 ✭✭Deregos


    Remarkable book by a remarkable man . .It was given to me as a present many years ago by a good friend, beats Angela's Ashes hands down when it comes to showing the harsh realities of poverty & class discrimination back in the day. Sadly . . I lent my copy to a decorator friend who passed away. . .Must get another one! Book that is . . .Not Friend :D

    Here's a link to The Robert Tressell Society

    It shows some interesting pics of the actual work carried out by him on St.Andrews Church (now demolished) in Queens Road, Hastings (Mugsborough) were the book was set.


  • Options
    #13
    Nolanger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,556 ✭✭✭Nolanger


    It was a disgrace that the centenary of his death last week was ignored in Ireland. That's what happens when we live in a country whose history and heritage has been rewritten by dumbed-down academics with blinkers on! Even emailed Dublin City Council to enquire what's been done this year to mark the 100th year of his death but lo and behold - sweet FA!


  • Options
    #14
    naasrd
    Registered Users Posts: 2,408 ✭✭✭naasrd


    Dizraeligears wrote: »
    Worked for many years as a specialist decorator,and remember reading this at the time.The descriptions of the preparation of paint etc.were fascinating.
    There is a memorial to Robert Tressel on Wexford St. across the street from Gunns camera shop or thereabouts-dunno if its still there after all these years...

    Yeah, it's still there, a stone carving, up above Raliegh bikes.


  • Options
    #15
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,488 ✭✭✭Denerick


    I bought it the other day. Is on my ever growing to-read list.


Advertisement