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The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists

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The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists

By: Robert Tressell
Narrated by: George Galloway
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About this listen

The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists chronicles the tale of Frank Owen, a traveling socialist visionary making his way from town to town in the name of the socialist revolution. When spring arrives, Frank Owen decides to settle in the quiet town of Mugsborough, and joins a group of workmen who are painting the home of a wealthy neighborhood resident. Owen is quickly befriended by two fellow workmen: Bodgit and Scarpy. Scarpy is thin and nearly emaciated. When the men break for lunch Scarpy never has much to eat; only a bit of bread, or a biscuit and tea. Owen inquires as to why he's so thin and undernourished. Bodgit explains that his pay has been severely cut, and he barely has enough to feed his wife and three growing children at home.

Public Domain (P)2016 Jay Stewart Classics Linguistics Social Sciences

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I found George read this with conviction his passion for this work is well noticed I have the naxo copy on another tablet but for strong socialist comment and the fire of this novel I can go with George all the way I hope he does another work say love on the dole by Walter Greenwood

Read with conviction

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What a superb rendering of the 'state of man' let alone the state of the nation or the world.
Truly a masterpiece of ingenuity and a brilliant and lucid depiction of the struggles and (self inflicted) ignorance of the working man.
I think this book should be on the reading list of every 1st year university student.

A triumph of political and social 'noire'.

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Written over 120 years ago. So much has changed for the better since then. The book stands as a snapshot into our working class forefathers lives. Heartily recommend it to all who want a heartfelt story. It has it all and with the anger and indignation of George Galloway’s narration. I am no fan of Galloway but he brings life to this amazing novel.

Who better to narrate than George Galloway

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If you've found this book, out is likely you have a good idea about its subject. The book delivers an easily relatable story of hardship and prosperity, based in Victorian times but it's equally applicable today, to discuss socialism. Reading this in October 2019, even at the end of the first chapter, I found many issues raised that I see and have seen happening over the last 9 years in startling severity.

I really can't get on with George Galloway's narration though - and it's nothing to do with his event! He delivers this without punctuation, blending one sentence into the next without even a breath. There's no clarity as to when someone starts or ends talking, or when he's reading narration, and by chapter 5 I can't continue due to this, and the constant mistakes, which in places make what he's saying incomprehensible. This version is going back for a refund, but I'm going to get the other unabridged version which is read by someone else completely. By the way, don't even think of an abridged version of this book. I believe you'll miss far too much to take in all that Tressell had to say.

There is one good thing about Galloway (in this recording at least, anything else I'll leave for your own judgement) which is his preface. He gives a nice bit of background to the boom and the author, and explains how it shaped his political ideas from an early age.

Galloway spoils an otherwise great book.

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Despite a few recording errors which are to be expected from the age it is a fantastic read. Humerous, emotional and entertaining, as well as thought provoking and educational. Even more than a century on there are innumerable parrallels that can still be drawn, especially in our current political climate.

Highly recommended reading

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A relevant commentary on today's societal issues. quite sad that there are so many likenesses to today's issues, evidently we have regressed in many areas.
The narration is repetitive in parts where it hasn't been edited properly, but a decent listen.

Topical in today's economic disarray

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A well delivered telling of the classic story. Galloway honest in his interpretation. A good version not without a couple of recording blips but believable and delivered with honesty and a passion obviously derived from a love of the subject matter.

A prescient reminder of what was and may be again

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The story is wonderful and pulls you in despite the terrible narration and rubbish editing (what appears to have been corrections are left in alongside the original narration) .

Great story but terrible editing and a bad narrator

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Fantastic even better if I could listen to the story and not get asked for a review after five minuets,don't think I will be a regular customer,it's back to Netflix for me bi...

The Rag Trou Planf

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To think this book was written over 100 years ago is hard to grasp. It could almost have been written in current times.
Historically correct in what it is thought to have been like back at the turn of the last century and the subtle humour throughout is not easily missed.
I will be buying this book in paper format and will treasure it as one of my top ten of all time.

Excellent book

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