The inspiration behind this blog
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is a classic of British working-class literature. Written in 1910, by Robert Noonan under the pen name 'Robert Tressell', the attitudes and economic context it describes seem as pertinent today as they did then. Like many of his generation, Noonan died of Tuberculosis in 1914 with his work un-published and narrowly escaping destruction.
Although set in a fictional town, and using fictitious names, the great strength of the book is that the author is describing his own first-hand experiences as a house painter working in Hastings at the time. The authors frustration at the gullibility of his workmates, the greed of business and the manipulation of the press and politicians shine through in the incidents he narrates.
'Tressells broad brush' will provide a narrative to the coalition of 2010 as it looks to turn the clock back 100 years, highlighting absurdities and pointing to relevant commentary.
The Political context of 1910
A further irony is that the Government at the time was led by Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister from 1908 - 1916. Until 1910 he oversaw great social reforms that many see as the early precursor of the modern welfare state, culminating in the 1910 budget that introduced heavier taxes on the rich to pay for the reforms. All of which drew tremendous opposition from the Conservatives provoking a significant constitutional crisis with the House of Lords and leading to two elections in 1910. These resulted in hung Parliaments with the Liberals ruling in conjunction with Irish nationalists - only with the war time election of 1915 was a formal coalition with the Conservatives entered into:
'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' - Wikipedia
Asquith - Wikipedia
