The Uses of Literacy: Aspects of Working-Class Life

by Richard Hoggart

Her own men-folk may appear careless of her for much of the time, but like to buy ornaments inscribed ‘What is home without a mother’, and for years after she has ‘gone’ will speak lovingly of ‘me mam’.

The husband’s clothes are knocked about at work, and so the endless patching-up goes on, interspersed with the buying of new articles which, because they are cheap, are not economical and soon show wear.

Such things as cigarettes and beer, it is felt, are part of life; without them, life would not be life;

What a husband is earning at twenty-one, he is likely to be earning at fifty-one;