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Loading... The loneliness of the long-distance runner (original 1959; edition 1985)by Alan Sillitoe
Work InformationThe Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe (1959)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. 3.5. Interesting autofiction about living in the cracks and crevices of capitalism. ( ) I picked this up because I so liked the movie adapted from the title story in this collection, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. The narrator of this story is an inmate at a Borstal (juvenile detention facility). When it was discovered that he was a talented runner he was given leave by the Chief Warden to exit the facility each morning in the freezing predawn hours to train. The Chief Warden is hopeful his Borstal will win the annual sports day competition with this runner. Most of the story consists of the narrator's thoughts while running--what led to his incarceration, is he to blame or is it society's fault? And of course, because of who the author is (one of the group of writers known as the Angry Young Men) and the time at which this was written, the focus is on class inequalities. Had I read this story before seeing the movie, I'm not sure I could have imagined making a movie of this story, which consists mostly of interior monologue. But both the story and the movie are excellent. There is also a selection of other stories, most of which consider the same themes, and most of which are also very good. Recommended. 3 1/2 stars The title short story is a magnificent summing up of the psychology created by the English Class system. You will learn a very great deal by reading it more than two years of formal sociology. But, the story may inspire you to try formal sociology as a mental discipline. In short, out hero is given an opportunity to get a small reward for involving himself in one of the activities of a society that gives him precious little other outlet. But, running does give him a platform for a political act which is now one of his ambitions. Do not pass up this insightful experience. no reviews | add a review
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A Borstal boy and his audacious companions are fresh from reform school and ready to take on the world. Members of the British lower class, they are out to beat the system anyway they can. Nine darkly comic stories of working-class men in 1950s Nottingham. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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