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The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

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The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

By: Robert Tressell
Narrated by: Tony Robinson
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About this listen

 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.

©2004 CSA Telltapes Ltd (P)2004 CSA Telltapes Ltd Classics Funny

Critic reviews

"A brilliant and very funny book." ( The Spectator)
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Either I have just wasted five hours or I've just save 20 hours. I can't make my mind up which. This is an abridged version of the novel, so without knowing the full version I don't know whether this is the 'best bits' or just the socialist manifesto extracted from it. The choice of Tony Robinson narrating works on one level, he has the right voice for the character, but my association of him with Baldrick did put me off as at times it was as if Baldrick was explaining one of his cunning plans. I don't know who the narrator for Barrington was, but having a second narrator come in 3/4 the way through didn't work for me and the voice didn't fit. I found it hard to pick up the story in between the lengthy socialist tracts, so overall I felt that this version may not have done the full book justice. On the other hand, if the full book is just a lengthier version of this, I'm glad I save the extra 20 hours involved in listening to it!

History according to Baldrick

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Great story and a really great telling of it. Crazy to think this was written so many years ago. Just shows how little has changed within the human mind compared compared to technology. Scary to think where the human race will end up!

Great story

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Magnificently read and well paced, this audio book is a real eye opener to anyone seeking to learn of socialist motives and ideals, i can only echo that an abridged version of a book is always a shame, but i didn't feel it detracted from it too much, i highly recommend this.

An excellent book

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a timeless classic. society is still the same today as it was then. which in my eyes is very sad

amazing

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One of my favourites from my student years Read by Tony Robinson how perfect

Listened to it all in one day as I did housework
Loved it all over again x

Tony Robinson

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