The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressall

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressall London: Richards, 10 Paternoster Square, E.C.4, 1938 Overview A collectable 1938 reprint of one of the most important and influential works of working-class literature ever published in the English language. Robert Tressall’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a searing, semi-autobiographical indictment of capitalism and the exploitation of the British working class, renowned for its clarity, humanity, and the famous “Money Trick” exposition of socialist economics. This copy is the Complete Edition, reprinted in February 1938, representing the fuller text closer to Tressall’s original manuscript, as opposed to the heavily abridged 1918 edition. It was published by Richards, the successor firm to Grant Richards Ltd., who issued the first edition in 1914. Publication Details   Attribute Detail Author Robert Tressall (pseudonym of Robert Noonan, 1870–1911) Title The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists Publisher Richards, 10 Paternoster Square, London, E.C.4 Year February 1938 (Complete Edition reprint) First Published April 1914 by Grant Richards Ltd. Printer The Garden City Press Limited, Letchworth, Hertfordshire Edition Complete Edition reprint Binding Publisher’s original cloth, lettered in black Language English Physical Description Binding: Original publisher’s reddish-brown/pink cloth boards, lettered in black on the front cover and spine; publisher’s name “RICHARDS” at foot of spine Condition: Fair to good. Boards show general wear, rubbing to extremities, some staining and discolouration (notably white marks to spine and lower front cover), and fraying to edges. Front inner hinge cracked. Text block toned but clean and legible. A complete, readable copy. Approximate Dimensions: ~185 x 125 mm (standard octavo) Weight: 392g Literary Significance The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is set in the fictional town of Mugsborough (based on Hastings, where Tressall lived and worked) and follows a group of house painters as they endure poverty, insecurity, and the casual cruelty of their employers and “betters.” Through the character of Frank Owen, Tressall delivers devastating critiques of poverty, religion, philanthropy, and the capitalist system, culminating in the celebrated “Money Trick” — a lucid explanation of how money and debt enslave the working class. George Orwell declared it “a book that everyone should read.” It has sold over one million copies and has never been out of print. The first unabridged edition, based on Tressall’s original manuscript, was finally published by Lawrence & Wishart in 1955. Provenance & Collectability This 1938 reprint represents an accessible entry point for collectors of: Socialist and Marxist literature Working-class fiction and social realism British labour history 20th-century political literature The Grant Richards / Richards publishing house While the 1914 first edition (particularly in dust jacket) is the prize for serious collectors and can command four-figure sums, this 1938 Complete Edition offers the full text in an authentic period binding at a fraction of the price. It is ideal for readers, students, and collectors building a library of political and social literature. Author Biography Robert Noonan (1870–1911), who wrote under the pseudonym Robert Tressall (a misspelling of “trestle,” the painter’s support), was an Irish house painter and signwriter. He worked in South Africa and later in Hastings, England, where he wrote The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists in his spare time. He died of tuberculosis in Liverpool in 1911, never living to see his masterpiece published. The manuscript was rescued by his daughter, Kathleen Noonan, and eventually found its way to the publisher Grant Richards. Keywords Robert Tressall, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, socialist literature, working-class novel, British labour history, Richards 1938, complete edition, vintage political books, social realism, anti-capitalist literature, George Orwell recommended, Money Trick, Mugsborough, Hastings, Robert Noonan, Grant Richards, 20th century social novel, collectable left-wing books, vintage cloth binding.