May 2026:

Published in 1959, the title comes from the first story in this collection inspired by Sillitoe’s poverty dominated childhood in Nottingham in the 1930s. In the story Smith, an opportunistic 17 year old thief sentenced to a borstal stay, describes his thoughts and memories as he’s sent out on long distance training runs by the borstal governor. The outpouring of feelings of anger in driven energetic prose, in an authentic Nottingham voice, is very effective at telling the reader how this resilient anti-hero plans to take his revenge. It’s a political story from a different time, about a rebel’s survival mechanism, and is well written.

Other stories were also particularly effective, such as The Fishing Boat Picture about a man whose wife leaves him, and then returns, and their lost opportunities. Also The Decline and Fall of Frankie Buller about a peculiar, local character who leads a gang of young tearaways. Other stories were thought to be less successful and authentic. Some themes, such as domestic violence after the local team lost their match, were unpalatable, and no female characters were developed. Generally though the collection, with its themes of loneliness and resilience were bleak but easy to read.

Sue Warren