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84th out of 134 books
—
27 voters
Love On The Dole
In Hanky Park, near Salford, Harry and Sally Hardcastle grow up in a society preoccupied with grinding poverty, exploited by bookies and pawnbrokers, bullied by petty officials and living in constant fear of the dole queue and the Means Test. His love affair with a local girl ends in a shotgun marriage, and, disowned by his family, Harry is tempted by crime. Sally, meanwhi...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
June 17th 1993
by Vintage Classics
(first published January 1966)
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Published in 1933, 'Love on the Dole' became a huge influence on the British public's view of unemployment and social deprivation, and even prompted an investigation by Parliament, leading to reforms. This is a work of fiction, but is very closely based on the lives of real people - Greenwood himself and the people he grew up with - and later studied from street corners - he always carried a notebook with him to make observations for later use.
Although the lives of the residents of Hanky Park se...more
Although the lives of the residents of Hanky Park se...more
This novel was on my reading list at university for my 20th Century Working Class Lit course, along with the likes of Room At The Top, Trainspotting, Up The Junction and a whole host of others - none of which are quick reads!! And as we had to start a new one each week for the lectures and seminars the most I got out of the majority of the books were about five chapters each.
But this was one I most definitely wanted to return to and hurrah, I have finally finished it! Have to say it was worth th...more
But this was one I most definitely wanted to return to and hurrah, I have finally finished it! Have to say it was worth th...more
This was another book set close to home. This one in set in Salford, during the 1930's. I read this described as Cathy Come Home for the 1930's. Now as much as I think that should be the other way around it is a good comparison.
This tells the story of Harry Hardcastle and his sister Sally. They live in 'Hanky Park' one if Salford's industrial slums. There isn't much cheer here. If I magine the setting I think of something similar to an Adolphe Valette scene. Greys, damp and fog.
Harry has 'ideas...more
This tells the story of Harry Hardcastle and his sister Sally. They live in 'Hanky Park' one if Salford's industrial slums. There isn't much cheer here. If I magine the setting I think of something similar to an Adolphe Valette scene. Greys, damp and fog.
Harry has 'ideas...more
I have recently been reading a lot of 1930s-1940s English fiction - most of it set in and around London. It was interesting to shift geographically up to Salford in the North West. Love On The Dole's dialogue is written in a Northern vernacular & it took me a while to adjust.
This book was published in 1933 and there is a wealth of great period detail but it is the overriding impression of grinding, unremitting poverty that is most powerful. The story is fairly predictable and is centred on...more
This book was published in 1933 and there is a wealth of great period detail but it is the overriding impression of grinding, unremitting poverty that is most powerful. The story is fairly predictable and is centred on...more
Love on the Dole is a must-read for students of sociology and class distinction. While it is set in England, it fit quite well with the coal mines in Alabama where I grew up. At the end I compare the sadness in this book with that in The Full Monty, which is advertised in the USA as a "comedy." Wonder what re-viewing that film would elicit from readers in Occupy/99ers.
Greenwood shows how very young boys are brought into factory work before they are of age to work. During those times, they can be...more
Greenwood shows how very young boys are brought into factory work before they are of age to work. During those times, they can be...more
The colloquial languaged used by Walter Greenwood adds to the atmosphere of desperation and oppression which permeates throughout this incredible novel. The hopelessness of life and lack of future resonates only too well with the current economic climate, and the characters leap from the page as if people you could have, or might have, met. The book concentrates on the experiences of two children of the Hardcastle family, and the different experiences gender gives to such utter degradation and a...more
I loved this... a wonderfully vivid account of working class life in Salford between the wars. With all the social history of Orwell's 'Road to Wigan Pier' and the reality of Tressell's 'Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' but with a valuable insight, without excessively heavy political influences, of how life must have been living through true austerity and exploitation. Add to this a strong narrative structure, some beautiful descriptive writing on par with Steinbeck and a cast of characters you...more
So old yet so near to the social issues of today. The situation may have been even more desperate back then, but it sure ain't better now. The description of the man on the dole is still beautiful and relevant today, and harsh reality that man cannot gulp down. Written very well, it's also interesting to see a lot of the phonetic writing of the dialogue of the book.
A great book of 1930s Salford the neighbouring City to Manchester. It shows how hard the life was in Salford and the Hankinson Park area of Salford when the crash of the late 20s came and how disposable life was for the underclass.
It is very much about love, loss and hope for the future, based on real events.
Great read try it
It is very much about love, loss and hope for the future, based on real events.
Great read try it
My brother gave this book to my daughter and said the subject matter is relevant today. He was right - young people hanging round on street corners, no jobs and no prospects. I really enjoyed this, but I did find myself reading it with a northern accent. Recommended.
My family was in this situation during the 20s/30s. My grandfather, a veteran of WWI and service in India, was a single parent to five children after losing my grandmother to childbirth.
It's grim oop North. No, really... it reads like the Monty Python 'Four Yorkshiremen' sketch. It also felt really patronising towards the demographics it was trying to portray... and deciding to write all your dialogue in dialect and then translating it in parentheses does not make for an easy read.
It's amazing to think that this book was written nearly 80 years ago - history repeating itself? A fascinating snapshot of Britain's social history
Wonderful... In every way. Recommended by my mother, I put off reading it for far far too long.
Shaped my view of Manchester?Salford while a medical student in the city
Think this has been done better by other writers in particularly Tressel, reading the dialogue was interesting but it reminded me of my grandparents.
This was a great read. The author exposed the era, the cycle of poverty and its effects on working class families so well.
An older Penguin classic that still haunts me.
A great insight into the world of unemployment in he 1930s.
Aug 06, 2010
!Tæmbuŝu
marked it as to-read
KOBOBOOKS
Reviewed by The Guardian
Reviewed by The Guardian
Been meaning to read this book for years. Took me ages to finish it and left me a little disappointed.
Not sure how relevant Larry's ownership of the means of production is these days.
It's grim up north.
Not sure how relevant Larry's ownership of the means of production is these days.
It's grim up north.
Good example of what it's like to be poor and have no chance to rise out of your circumstances. Told in relation to a manufacturing town during the depression in early 20th century in England.
Excellent, Very Good Story, very well written. A real bona-fide classic. I wouldn't hesitate recommend this brilliant book to anyone.
May 18, 2013
Chris
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2013
D. G-lucrece
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Chris
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
James Wadwell
marked it as to-read
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“Altogether, a pleasant place, marred by activities of unpleasant people whose qualities, perhaps, are sad reflections of sadder environments.”
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