• The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

  • By: Robert Tressell
  • Narrated by: Tony Robinson
  • Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Release date: 06-13-05
  • Language: English
  • Publisher: CSA Word
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars 3.6 (9 ratings)

Regular price: $11.35

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Publisher's Summary

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.
(P)2004 CSA Telltapes Ltd
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Critic Reviews

"A brilliant and very funny book." (The Spectator)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
5 out of 5 stars
By brent on 09-02-15

revolutionary

one of those books like Lord of the Flies or 1984 that are still so relevant today

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3 out of 5 stars
By Kenneth on 09-15-11

Not a must read

As I find reading most politically inspired books, "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" is an extreme view. The author portrays all the capitalists as evil and greedy and the poor suffering working class as having no options. While hailing the greatness of socialism, Tressell neglects to take into account the nature of man to be greedy and lazy as well as ignoring that people may actually want to be different, have different things, travel, change their vocation or any other objection you may have to socialism. He just kind of sweeps them under the rug with a statement about how that wouldn't be necessary or simply wouldn't happen.

The story itself moved along pretty well. The characters were well thought out although a little one dimensional. It's not a long book so it was not too much of a drag to get through but don't expect any great philosophical revelations, it's mostly socialist propaganda with very little applicable material to today's society. It's been proven that socialism doesn't work so I kind of found it a moot point.

The narrator does a very good job and I rather enjoyed his performance. I would consider listening to him again.

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0 of 3 people found this review helpful

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful
4 out of 5 stars
By V. S. on 07-28-05

Fascinating - What a shame it's abridged.

I would never have chosen this book but for a friend recommending it to me as being a good read many years ago. In all those intervening years I never came across it - until spotting it on audible.

The only reason I give it 4 stars rather than five is that it is an abridged version and although I have never read the unabridged book I could tell it was abridged by the way the story seemed to jump in places leaving little story threads unfinished. To be honest I simply can't understand why publishers produce abridged versions of books - but I suppose that little debate is out of place here.

Abridgment aside though - don't be put off downloading this. My friend was right - it's a gem! I cannot believe how little the life of the common man has changed since this was written and just how relevant and fresh the message contained in the book still is. For the first time I understand the underlying principles of socialism and feel so sad that despite its high ideals it seems so unattainable.

Don't get me wrong - despite its theme, this book is not all serious, in fact it's highly entertaining, and Tony Robinson (Baldric from Blackadder) was the ideal choice for narrator.

This was an audio credit well spent.

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12 of 12 people found this review helpful

4 out of 5 stars
By TomRatm on 04-17-07

An excellent book

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.

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5 of 5 people found this review helpful

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