The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

"The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" by Robert Tressell is a social critique set against a backdrop of corrupt politicians, exploitative capitalists, and hypocritical religious figures. Through the experiences of the socialist protagonist, Frank Owen, the novel explores themes of inequality and workers’ struggles, highlighting how many laborers accept poverty as inevitable while being misled about the true sources of their hardship. The story is centered on conversations and lectures that voice Tressell’s critique of the capitalist system and advocate for social change.