The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists tells the story of a group of working men in the fictional town of Mugsborough, and of socialist journeyman-prophet Frank Owen, who attempts to convince his fellow workers that capitalism is the real source of the poverty all around them. Owen’s spirited attacks on the greed and dishonesty of the capitalist system, and his support for a socialist society in which work is performed to satisfy the needs of all, rather than to generate profit for a few, eventually rouses his fellow men from their political passivity. Written by Robert Tressell, a painter and decorator in Edwardian Britain, this book is widely believed to be the first working-class novel.

Described by George Orwell as a piece of social history and a book that everyone should read, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is often cited as one of the most authentic novels of English working-class life ever written. In this faithful graphic adaptation, creators Scarlett and Sophie Rickard paint a comprehensive picture of social, political, economic and cultural life in early 20th century Britain that is still acutely relevant today.

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The making of this book was generously supported by Arts Council England.